William Charles Jacobs, 83, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away on Monday, November 27, 2017 at Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach, Fla. with his family by his side.
Born in Queens, N.Y., he was the eldest son of William K. Jacobs and Catherine McKee Jacobs. He attended North Texas State University in Denton, Texas and Armstrong State College in Savannah, Ga., earning his bachelors of science degree from the University of Nebraska, Omaha in 1971.
As a young man, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He left the Navy as a chief boatswain's mate and accepted a commission as a warrant officer in the U.S. Army. During his career, he served as a vessel master and harbor master in Vietnam and as a special agent in the Criminal Investigative Command (CID) at Ft. Benning, Ga. and special agent in charge in Neu Ulm, Germany, retiring in 1975.
Following retirement from the Army, he was an instructor at the Georgia State Police Academy in Atlanta, Ga. In 1978, he accepted directorship of the North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy in Austell, Ga. Moving to St. Simons Island, Ga., Bill accepted the position of instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Ga.
In 1999, he and his wife Rose Mary moved to Fernandina Beach. Bill enjoyed traveling, cycling with his dog Snow and work outs at the gym. He loved fixing things and wood working in his shop. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
He volunteered his time working for and with disabled veterans.
Bill leaves behind his wife of 59 years, Rose Mary; children, Christine Fournier and Robert Jacobs; brothers, Tom Jacobs (Ann), Robert Jacobs, Jack Jacobs and Jim Jacobs (Kris); sisters, Kathleen Liston (David) and Arline Harris (Phil). He is also survived by four grandchildren, Robert Fournier, Nicole Critchfield (Ryan), Farrah Whorton and Sterling Wood (Duran), and three great-grandchildren, Riley and Leilu Wood and Finn Critchfield.
His beloved son, William P. Jacobs, and sister, Maureen Walker, preceded him in death.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Monday, December 11, 2017 at St. Michael Catholic Church in Fernandina Beach with Father Jose Kallukalam officiating. Mr. Jacobs will be late to rest in Jacksonville National Cemetery at a later date.
Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors