George Francis Jacobs, of Gambier, Ohio, passed away at his home on October 15, 2024.
He was born June 25, 1939, in Gambier, Ohio, to Helen (Hall Jacobs) Sims and Donald George Jacobs.
He graduated from Gambier High School in 1957 and from DeVry Technical Institute in July 1959.
He enlisted in the Navy in October 1959. He joined the U.S.S. Everglades (AD-24) after basic training and served on her until January 1961. He then attended the U.S. Navy Service School Command, taking training as an Interior Communications Electrician, Class A. He graduated with distinction as first in his class in July 1961 and followed this with service on the U.S.S. Leary (DDR-879) as an Interior Communications Technician.
While George was serving on the U.S.S. Leary, she was ordered to the waters off Cuba after President John F. Kennedy declared a quarantine of that island (October 1962). During this time the U.S.S. Newport News, with the U.S.S. Leary in company, intercepted, inspected, and turned away a Soviet cargo vessel.
The U.S.S. Leary was also one of 2 US Navy destroyers tasked with tracking down the Anzoategui, a freighter that had been seized by Communist revolutionaries in the Caribbean in February 1963.
While on the U.S.S. Leary, his ship visited many ports on a tour of the Mediterranean that included stops at the French Riviera; Beirut, Lebanon; Naples, Italy; Athens, Greece; Barcelona, Spain and the Rock of Gibraltar.
George was honorably discharged from the Navy in October 1963.
In 1964, he was employed by Cooper-Bessemer in the En-Tronics Control department. During his 39 years of employment, he traveled across America and the world troubleshooting issues with systems built by Cooper. He spent 2 months in Alaska, and time in other parts of the US. He also traveled to the Netherlands, Iran, South Korea, and several Canadian provinces. He retired in 2003 from Rolls Royce as a Test Engineer.
George and Janet Bumpus were married on February 6, 1965, and celebrated 59 years of marriage. They both are members of the Mount Vernon Church of Christ. George and Janet enjoyed vacationing, visiting over 60 locations through the years.
He was also a blood donor to the American Red Cross, having donated 5 gallons of blood over the years.
He is survived by two sons, George Michael Jacobs and Jerry W. Jacobs of Mount Vernon; siblings Judy (Dave) Mobberley of Louisville, KY; Ronald (Connie) Jacobs of Abra Philippines; Sue (Ron Boston) Jacobs of Mount Vernon; and Donna Jacobs of Houston, TX; stepsister Joan (Owen) Jones of Howard and stepbrother Joe Sims of Port Clinton; sister-in-law, Doris (Joe) Brown; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father (Donald), mother (Helen), his stepfather (George Sims), and his brother, Charles.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, from 11:00am– 12:00pm at Snyder Funeral Home – Lasater Chapel, 11337 Upper Gilchrist Rd. in Mount Vernon. Funeral services will follow at 12:00 noon with Pastor Ben Driver officiating. Burial with military graveside honors by the Knox County Joint Veterans Council will be in Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens.
A luncheon will follow the graveside at Mount Vernon Church of Christ on Newark Road.
To express a condolence to the family, please visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com
Funeral Home: Snyder Funeral Home – Lasater Chapel
Website: www.snyderfuneralhomes.com