Robert Earl Jacobs, 96, passed away peacefully at home, with his children at his side, on October 17, 2022. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania September 12, 1926, he was the son of the late Clarence & Edna (Jones) Jacobs. The family lived on Genesis Street in East Springfield, and Bob attended Van Sickle Junior High, before his father was transferred to Lawrence, Massachusetts. He was a varsity football player and graduated in 1944 from Lawrence High School. He immediately enlisted in Army Air Corps to serve his country in Germany at the end of World War II.
After being honorably discharged and getting married, he started his young family in Salem, New Hampshire. 1956 brought a move back to Springfield where he purchased a home on Savoy Avenue. His work history included driving tractor trailers for the U.S. Postal Service, General Baking Company's Bond Bread, and hauling fuel for Rivest Oil Company. He began his final career with Bay State Gas Company in 1968 until his retirement in 1991.
He was an avid reader, especially of history, a woodworker, sports spectator, dog lover, and always completed his crossword puzzles & sudoku in ink. He was a "jack of all trades" when it came to helping family, friends and neighbors with home construction projects and fixing anything that was broken. Over his lifetime, he donated an astounding 863 units of blood to the Red Cross.
After retiring, he devoted his time, talents and treasures volunteering with The Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity, and driving the shuttle bus for Shriners Hospital well into his eighties. He loved traveling with his family and sailed on cruises to Alaska, Bermuda, the Caribbean, and Scandinavia. He took many road trips on his own whenever his “right foot got itchy” especially going to aviation museums and historical sites, visiting 49 states, only missing Hawaii, including a seven week "Amazing Adventure" around the country with family.
He was predeceased by his wives, Doris (Abbott) in 1975 and Frances (Hallock) in 1999.
He is survived by his younger brother Richard Jacobs & family of Seattle, WA, sons, Arthur Jacobs & wife Kathryn of Brentwood, TN, Richard Jacobs & wife Doris of Fort Wayne, IN, and Brent Alexander & wife Margaret of West Springfield, MA, daughters, Linda Pietroniro & husband Tony of Daytona Beach, FL, and Laurie Jacobs Holbach & husband Keith of South Florida, grandchildren, Paula Geil, Lisa Miller, Julie Page, Christian Jacobs, Robin Taylor, Sarah DeBarge, Kayla Nieves, Nicholas Holbach, Cory Holbach, Steven Jacobs, Scott Jacobs and Sarah Jacobs. Bob also had 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
Per Bob's wishes, his services were private with full military honors.
Memorial contributions may be made to Holyoke VNA Hospice or Shriners Hospital.
Please visit www.TazziniFuneralHome.com for condolences.