Wayne C. Jackson, age 90, of Malvern, died Sunday morning, September 26, 2010 at the Hot Spring County Medical Center. He was born in Willow, Arkansas on September 10, 1920 to the late Algie and Lucille Hudson Jackson. Reared and educated at Willow, he was a member of the last graduating class of the Willow school. Wayne was a United States Army veteran of World War 2, during which time he served with the original Merrill's Marauders in the China-Burma-India Theatre, helping to cut the Burma Trail, and in so doing, he and his fellow infantrymen marched over 1000 miles. After his war service, and early in his career, he worked with his uncle in commercial construction. A resident of Malvern since 1953, Wayne was owner/operator of a logging and sawmill company, and later spent twenty years, along with his wife, as owner of Jackson's Old Spring House Restaurant and the Sands Restaurant. He was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church where he had taught the Friendship Sunday School Class, and served as board chair for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Frances Nantze Jackson, to whom he was married on December 24, 1949 in Malvern. Wayne also leaves behind two daughters, Gloria Wright and her husband Jimmy of Malvern, and Retha Cline and her husband Rick of Springdale, Arkansas; his grandchildren, Ashley and David Hopkins, Brooke and Jimmy Moore, Randi and Daniel Green, Jackson and Tara Cline, and Jotham Wright and special friend, Leslie Clements; two great-grandchildren, Houston and William Hopkins; and two sisters-in-law, Merle Dean Jackson and Nettie Jean Jackson.

Wayne was also preceded in death by his siblings and their spouses, Norman and Helen Jackson, Erma and James Dial, Sam Jackson, and Bill John Jackson.

His funeral will be Wednesday morning, September 29, 2010, at eleven o'clock in the Cypress Methodist Church at Willow with Reverends Dooley Fowler and Bryan Diffee officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in the Cypress Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be: John Jackson, Russell Jackson, Jimmy Jackson, Lyle Jackson, Kerry Jackson, and Kinney Black.

Honorary pallbearers will be all of Wayne's friends.

The family will receive friends at J. A. Funk Funeral Home on Tuesday evening from five until eight o'clock.

Memorials are requested to St. Paul United Methodist Church, or to the Cypress Cemetery Association, c/o Jimmy Jackson, 1696 Country Club Road, Malvern, Arkansas.

Online condolences may be sent via jafunkfuneralhome.com.