Arthur Franklin (Red) Ackerson's Obituary
Arthur Franklin (Red) Ackerson, 89 1/2, passed away May 30, 2020 at 7:14 a.m. The Ackersons will receive family and friends from noon to 2:00 p.m. June 3, followed immediately by a Celebration of Life service at 2:00 p.m. at the Sunset Memorial Park Chapel, 6245 Columbia Rd, North Olmsted, OH 44070. Social distancing of 6 ft between family groups and the wearing of masks is requested. The service will be streamed for those who cannot attend (http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/30434). Interment to immediately follow in the Westwood Abbey Mausoleum to be attended by immediate family only. Red was born on October 1, 1930 in Tidal, Pennsylvania, to Arthur Franklin and Lois Isabel (Crissman) Ackerson. He was raised on a dairy farm in Marion Center, Pennsylvania, graduated from Marion Center High School and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1948 to 1952. He married Janet Rose Treese of Clymer, Pennsylvania on May 30, 1954, Memorial Day, 66 years to the day of his passing. They moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1955, Berea in 1957, Columbia Station in 1963 and Strongsville in 2014.
Red worked as a millwright at Ford Motor Company from 1957 to 1987. He loved gardening. He grew prize-winning gladiolus that he entered in the Cuyahoga County Fair for many years. Red also raised a large vegetable garden where he spent many hours. He and Janet regularly escaped the cold Ohio winters to their winter home in Ocala, Florida, for 30 years. There they enjoyed visits from their children, grandchildren, and a great-grandchild from New Mexico, Utah, Ohio, and Oregon.
He is survived by his children Barbara Wright and husband Thomas of Albuquerque, New Mexico, their daughters Molly and Samantha; Nancy Roberts and husband Dempsey of Riverton, Utah; Lorie Hill and husband David of Cleveland, Ohio, her daughter Jasmine Davenport and Jasmine’s daughter Alexis (Lexie) Holland of Brunswick, Ohio; and Jeff Ackerson and wife Brenda of Bend, Oregon.
He is survived by brother Larry Ackerson and wife Bertha of Marion Center, Pennsylvania; brother Richard Ackerson and wife Patty of Creekside, Pennsylvania; and sister Karen Johnson and husband Tom of Indiana, Pennsylvania, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and their families. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to:
American Diabetes Association at https://www.diabetes.org/donate
Diabetes Foundation at https://diabetesfoundationinc.org/
National Kidney Foundation at https://www.kidney.org/donation
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