Dr. Melvin Eugene “Pat” Jackson, Optometrist, 82, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 11th, 2026 at home, his wife and dogs by his side.

Pat was born in Pensacola, Florida, on November 21st, 1943. He attended Chicora High School, Charleston, South Carolina, (1956-57); Ft Hamilton High School, Brooklyn, New York, (1957-59); and Pensacola High, Florida, (1959-60). After twenty years serving his country and seeing the world, Pat continued his academics at Tidewater Community College with an Associate in Science (1980-82). He then attended Southern College of Optometry, Memphis, TN, receiving his Bachelor of Science in Biology and Physics (1984), and his Doctor of Optometry with the Class of 1986.

Dr. Jackson retired in October of 2012 from his self owned Optometry Office in Virginia Beach, after serving the community for 26 years. He was an active member and outspoken leader within the Tidewater Optometric Society, the Virginia Optometric Association, and the American Optometric Association. He was also invited as a Fellow of the Virginia Academy of Optometry, an honor he held dear. He loved being able to help his patients and his “white coat” allowed folks to see a compassionate side of him that many never thought possible.

Retiring as a Chief Petty Officer, ICC (SW) (Interior Communications, Chief) Jackson served in the US Navy from November 1960 to November 1980. He served aboard seven ships, from Destroyers and Destroyer Escorts, to a Minesweeper and an Oiler to an Aircraft Carrier. His service spanned from Basic Training to the Cuban blockade through five Vietnam and West Pacific cruises and beyond. Chief Jackson also had a tour as a Fleet Training Electrical “C” School Instructor, teaching the NCC-1 Navigational Plotter System, which, like him, has been long-retired.

Pat was happiest being out on the water, even if the fish weren’t biting. He held a USCG Captain’s License (OUPV) and he loved the quote from Isak Dinesen, “The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea.”

Pat enjoyed starting his day with coffee and newspaper puzzles. He was a proud MENSA member, a good neighbor, a connoisseur of aged rums with the occasional cigar, and an avid Sci-Fi reader (and anything to do with the military or espionage and everything by Michener). He and Betty hosted more than 82 French and Spanish students and he loved showing them the area and its history, taking them tubing in The Narrows, and showing them the dolphins in the Bay.

Lucky both in cards and in love, Pat is survived by his wife, Betty Lou Jackson (née Witt), after 52 loving years together. He is cherished in memory as well by his nephew, Matthew; twin nieces, Katie (AJ) and Sabrina (Liam); sister in law Barbara (Byron) Olson, along with colleagues, friends, other family and his three dogs. He was pre-deceased by their 11 beloved dogs and many friends and family. He said the biggest problem with getting old was watching his friends die. (I’m sorry that you now have that same experience—Betty.)

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hope For Life, our local, nonprofit animal rescue organization at: www.hopeforliferescue.com, or, to your preferred Veterans’ organization.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Please post your fondest condolences to the family at the Cremation Society of Virginia website, www.vacremationsociety.com

There are two other quotes that Pat had posted at home and in the office, (besides the, “This ship is captained by a mean old bastard,” that was on his boat, the “Aye-Doc”). They both reflect his philosophy.

From John Donne:

No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main: any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee.

And from Harold Robbins:

A man is a thousand parts, all of them other people. Those he loved… those he did not…those who merely passed through his life. And the total of him is the sum of all of them added together, divided by each other, subtracted from each other and multiplied individually and cumulatively. (I looked around the room at all of them, and there I was.)”

Thank you for being part of him. He had few regrets.
“The moving finger writes; and, having writ, moves on: nor all thy piety nor wit shall lure it back to cancel half a line, nor all thy tears wash out a word of it. Omar Khayyam