PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Ralph C. Jackson, 63, of Pittsfield died Thursday, June 15, 2017, in the arms of his loving wife, after a short battle with lung cancer. 

Ralph was born in Pittsfield on May 5, 1953, the son of the late Richard and Ruth Jacques Jackson. Ralph was a life time resident of Pittsfield. He attended local schools and graduated from St. Louis High School in Hawaii and Wentworth Technical Institute in Boston. Ralph received his Massachusetts Electrical License in 2001. 

He had many interest, he enjoyed the outdoors, doing puzzles going to the gym, watching NASCAR and going to the casinos with his buddy Brian. Ralph joined the U.S. Army on January 7, 1976; he was first assigned to Ft. Dix, New Jersey, for basic training, followed by Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, for individual training. He was sent to join the 1st Battalion 8th Field Artillery 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii as a Gunner/Crewman, then to Fort Carson 1st Battalion 29th Field Artillery in Colorado as section chief with the 4th Infantry Division. After a short time in the Army Reserves he returned to active duty, where he was an instrument section chief with C Company 123rd Maintenance Battalion 1st Armored Division in Germany, and then to the 581st Maintenance Company at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. 

Ralph left the Army in April 1984. Ralph really enjoyed his military service as seen by his many medals, letters of commendation, letter of completion, and letters of appreciation. 

Ralph married Betty J. Barosso of Pittsfield on January 14, 1978. Ralph started working at Crane & Company in April of 1989 as an instrument technician. He worked 25 years at Crane’s and one year at Neenah Fine Papers, where he retired as an electrician. 

Ralph is survived by his seven brothers, Richard (Mary) of New York, Raymond (Barbara) of Summerfield, Fla., Robert (Kathy) of Great Barrington, Mass., Roger of Mechanicville, N.Y., Roy of Springfield, Mass., Ronald of Adams, Mass., and Randal (Melanie) of Hancock, Mass.; four sisters, Ruth Plouffe of Manchester, Conn., Roberta, (George) Lussier of Manassas, Va., Rebecca (Richard) Shoestock of Lady Lake, Fla., and Roslyn Dixon of Pittsfield; two brothers-in-law, Charles (Donna) Barosso of Spring Hill, Fla., and John (Sylvia) Barosso of Pittsfield; and many nieces and nephews. He also leaves his special niece and nephew John and Carrie Hillenbrandt and their two daughters Sydney (Snyder) and Lyndsey (Nestle) which he loved and cherished, and who were the light of his life. 

Ralph is predeceased by his father, mother, and a sister Rosemary and a sister-in-law: Carol Barosso.

Funeral notice: Funeral services for Ralph C. Jackson, 64, of Pittsfield, who passed away June 15, 2017, will be held Wednesday, June 21, 2017, at 9:15 a.m. from the Dery Funeral Home in Pittsfield followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Charles Church celebrated by the Rev. Michael Wood, administrator. 

Burial with military honors will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Calling hours will be held Tuesday, June 20, 2017, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial donations in memory of Ralph may be made to the BMC Cancer Infusion Center in care of the funeral home, 54 Bradford Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201.