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John D. Jacobs

July 7, 1920 — December 25, 2003

JACOBS, JOHN John D. Jacobs, 83, of Waco, died, Wednesday, December 24, 2003 at his residence. Services will be 3:00pm Saturday, December 27, at 1st Presbyterian Church in Waco, with Rev. Jimmie Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 6 – 8pm Friday, December 26 at the funeral home. Mr. Jacobs was born on July 7, 1920, to Daphne Dodson and John C. Jacobs in Norman, Oklahoma, where he grew up attending public schools and the University of Oklahoma. He graduated with honors in Mechanical Engineering, was inducted into Tau Beta Phi and selected for Pe-et, an organization composed of the ten outstanding senior men on campus. He was co-captain of OU’s Big 6 conference championship golf team and was an officer in his Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity chapter. He entered the army in 1942 and married Beverly Baine while stationed at Camp Hood. During World War II he served in Europe as a heavy artillery battery commander during the French, German and Rhineland battle campaign. His decorations and citations included three Bronze Stars and the Croix de Guerre for service in the U.S. First, Third and Seventh Armies and with the French First Army, personally presented by General Charles de Gaulle at Sainte, France. In 1946, Mr. Jacobs went to work for General Electric Co. as a heating and air conditioning application engineer, later moving to Waco where he co-founded Jacobs-Cathey Co., a mechanical contracting firm, in 1956. He served as chairman of the Board until the company was sold in 1989. A former Central Texas Engineer of the Year, he was a U.S. patent holder. He chaired Ridgewood Country Club’s committee for construction of its present golf course and was a former club champion. He was president and a director of the Northwest Waco Kiwanis Club, and served in similar positions in several other organizations and clubs. He led an active life and enjoyed hunting, fishing, golf and foreign travels. Mr. Jacobs was a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church, having served as a teacher, Church School Superintendent, Chairman of the Diaconate and member of the Long Range Planning Committee. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Beverly Baine Jacobs; son, John Baine Jacobs and wife, Elaine of Humble; son, William Lawrence Larry Jacobs and wife, Jody of O’Fallon, Illinois; son, Theodore Ted Knight Jacobs and wife, Debbie of Norman, Oklahoma; six grandchildren; two step grandchildren; four great grandchildren; brother, William P. Jacobs and wife, Nancy of Seattle, Washington; three nephews; two nieces; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Allen and Lynn Baine McCree of Austin. Pallbearers will be Dr. W.D. Hunter, David Senter, Jim Gresham, Jim Reeder, Julian Oates and Dr. R.W. Crosthwait. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to First Presbyterian church, Meals on Wheels or charity of choice. Sincere appreciation is expressed to Providence Health Center Hospice.

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