Jack Frank Bullington, Sr.

Jack Frank Bullington, Sr. was born December 12, 1924 in Atlanta to Samuel and Myrtle Argo Bullington. His naval career and his family were central to his life. After Pearl Harbor, his parents signed a waiver to allow him to enlist at 17 years of age in the U.S. Navy on December 15, 1941 beginning a 30 year career. He served aboard the USS Portland and witnessed the surrender of Japanese commanders of the central and southern Pacific on September 2, 1945. His naval career spanned thirty years and more than a dozen duty stations in the Naval Weather Service, until he retired as a Commander from Cecil Field in 1972. Afterward, he kept in touch with friends from the Navy through USS Portland and Naval Weather Service reunions. He was a member of the Navy Memorial in Washington, DC. His patriotism remained steadfast, as he demonstrated daily by displaying the flag in his yard, faithfully lowering it every sunset. Jack married Evelyn Glover, his childhood sweetheart, on September 19, 1942, though they were both just 17 years old and some said they were “too young.” Sixty-seven years later their family had grown to three children, Jack (Mary), Diane Robinson (Ed) and Larry; seven grandchildren, Jana Kinder (Curt), Elizabeth Monagan (Jerrad), Bryan Bullington, Erin DeLozier (Danny), Megan Lineberry (Brent), Valerie Bullington, Meredith Robinson; and nine great-grandchildren, Jacob West, Kellen Wise, Leo Bullington, Noah and Cate Monagan, Gillian and Owen Kinder, Brady Delozier, and Elijah Lineberry, due in April. Evelyn saw him through his Navy career, kept him company in retirement, and stood with him through numerous illnesses in recent years. Clearly, their devotion to each other was strong enough to survive the test of years. When he passed away early Thursday, January 21, 2010, he was surrounded by Evelyn, his children, and grandchildren. Family will always remember outings with him in his boat, tours of the yard on his lawn tractor, and more recently, rides on his golf cart. He always had a camera in hand at gatherings, and thus we have an extensive photographic record of family history as well as his travels with Evelyn. Neighbors found his gardens a source of fresh tomatoes and peppers, which Jack and Evelyn happily shared. Neighborhood children often lingered around "Mr. Jack's" garage, knowing there was a bowl of pennies inside that they could use on his well – stocked gumball machine. He whistled continually as he went about his daily routine, providing his own soundtrack for all his activities; he warmed our hearts with his wry humor, gentle teasing remarks, and his sly smile. Wherever he lived, Jack was involved with his community as well, serving as a scoutmaster when his children were young, and later as an elementary teacher in Clay County schools. He loved the University of Georgia Bulldogs and wore his team colors with pride, much to the chagrin of many neighboring UF fans. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Orange Park, an alumnus of University of North Florida, and liked to say that he was a member of the Greatest Generation. A memorial service will be held at Broadus Raines Chapel on Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 10:00 am followed with inurnment at Jacksonville Memory Gardens at 1:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his honor to the Boy Scouts of America, North Florida Council, 521 S. Edgewood Ave., Jacksonville, FL, 32205. Please sign the family's online guestbook at www.broadusraines.com. Broadus-Raines Funeral Home, 501 Spring Street, Green Cove Springs, FL (904) 284-4000.