Former Vero Beach postmaster dies at 89 - TCPalm
VERO BEACH — A former city postmaster and longtime officer of the Indian River Federal Credit Union died Monday.
James H. Acker, 89, retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 1978 after 37 years of service that was only interrupted by serving as a Navy chief petty officer in the Pacific during World War II from 1942 to 1945.
He was among the first troops to go ashore following the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.
"He was like a lot of men from the war," said his son, David Acker. "He didn't talk about it" except for his going into Nagasaki two days after the bombing.
Late in life, Acker told his family that he still remembered what happened (in Nagasaki) like it was yesterday, but he couldn't remember what he had the day before because that was of so little importance, his son said.
James Acker served aboard the aircraft carrier Chenango and was awarded the Combat Ribbon, Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Medal for Asia/Japan, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Ribbon and Cold War Victory Medal.
He was born in Hamilton, Ohio, in 1922 and that year he moved with his family to Vero Beach. His father was a president of the former Farmers Bank in Vero Beach.
Acker graduated from Vero Beach High School and started working for the Postal Service in 1941. That year, he was recognized for his volunteer work in helping rescue people from an American Airlines crash in swampy lands west of Vero Beach, his family said.
He worked in the main post office in Vero Beach and in 1965 he became the last postmaster to be nominated by a president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. President Lyndon B. Johnson was in office at the time.
Acker was selected as the District Postmaster of the Year in 1975 and was Florida Postmaster of the Year in 1976.
During his years as postmaster, he served as a member of the Florida District and Sectional Center Managers advisory committees. He also served as chairman for the Area Mail Service Improvement at Florida First Class Offices. He was a trainer postmaster for first-class officers.
He was a member of the National Association of Postmasters.
After leaving the Postal Service, he worked for the Indian River Federal Credit Union as a manager from 1988 to 1995. Before that, he served as a volunteer treasurer and member of the board of directors. He was chairman of the credit union's Supervisory Committee until March 2006.
He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, National Association of Atomic Veterans and National Association of Radiation Survivors.
Acker was an active member of St. Helen Catholic Church and a life member of the Knights of Columbus.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jean; two sons, David Acker of Waycross, Ga., and Mark Acker of Nashville; daughter Melissa Acker of Mills River, N.C.; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Cox-Gifford-Seawinds Funeral Home. A prayer service is at 6 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Friday at St. Helen Catholic Church, Vero Beach.
Interment with military honors conducted by VFW Post 3918 will follow at Crestlawn Cemetery, Vero Beach. A reception will be held at the St. Helen Social Hall following the burial.
Memorial donations may be made to the St. Helen Catholic Church Building Fund, 2000 20th Avenue, Vero Beach, FL 32960.
Condolences may be sent through www.coxgiffordseawinds.com
29 Sep, 2011--
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