Robert Lewis Jacobs
January 12, 1940-April 21, 2020
Jacobs, Robert Lewis died on Tuesday, April 21, at home with his family. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on January 12, 1940, to the late William Lewis Jacobs and Kathryn Buchanan Jacobs. In 1945, the family moved to Richmond, Virginia, into a log cabin on Cherokee Road. In 1949, the family moved into the city where Bob attended Westhampton Junior High School. He delivered the Richmond Newsleader every afternoon after school. Bob enjoyed scouting; he was a cub scout, boy scout, and sea explorer. He also attended Thomas Jefferson High School. He enjoyed music and his senior year was president of the acapella choir. He participated in the many musicals held at the school. In his last two years at Thomas Jefferson, Bob worked before school, after school, and Saturdays at Puritan Cleaners. After attending junior college in LaGrange, Illinois, he moved back to Richmond and worked full time at Puritan Cleaners. In 1962, he joined the United States Coast Guard Reserve, serving for six years during the Viet Nam era. After working for Puritan for eight years, he was promoted to General Manager. In 1972, Bob ventured out on his own buying Windsor Cleaners and Launderers until 1989 when he sold it. Bob took a job with Adco, Inc. as a sales rep selling dry cleaning chemicals and solvents. He retired when the company was sold. During his retirement, Bob worked as a bus driver’s aide to special needs children; He loved to fish and play golf.
Bob was a community-minded person who belonged to many organizations: West End Jaycees, West Richmond Businessmen’s Association, the Tobaccoland Chorus (now the Virginians), Richmond Country Club, Hermitage Country Club, Richmond Council of the Navy League, Employers Support for the Guard and Reserve, Virginia Yacht Club, American Legion, and served as president of the West Richmond Rotary Club where he had 44 years of perfect attendance.
Bob is survived by his wife of 57 years, Elizabeth Bailey Jacobs; his son Richard H. Jacobs and his wife Debbie; his daughter Katherine Jacobs Cockerham and her husband Michael; his grandson Adam Michael Adulewicz; a sister Carol Jacobs Eiland, her two sons, Chase and James, of Austin, Texas, and her daughter Dianna Kay Eiland of Arlington, VA; and his brother Richard B. Jacobs and his wife Jeannie of Katy, TX. Funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 7267, Richmond, VA 23221.
Lovely obituary for a wonderful gentleman for which he was a shining example. So glad we became friends and neighbors and continue to play bridge with you. I am still in FL but hope to return home May 14 and hope to get together soon afterward. You and family are in my thoughts and prayers. What a weird world we are living in right now. One step forward at a time. Love and thoughts. Jean L
Thank you for your kindness.
Always made me smile and lots of times laugh right out loud! He definitely made this world a brighter place!
Thank you for sharing your memories, love and kindness.
the World lost a wonderful man but he’s not gone he’s just moved up. Thoughts and prayers to the family. Love you all!
He thought you were a sweetheart and loved you too.
I loved hearing about his faith and love for the Lord and those around him! We will see you again in Heaven Bob. Prayers for all of you and we love you so much!
Thank you for the video message you sent him in his last few weeks. He loved you all, but had a soft spot for his “angel” Miranda.
My first job as a teenager in the early 60’s was working the curb at Puritan with Bob (we called him “Jake” then) as my boss. He was a good man and I enjoyed running into him a number of times since those days. My sincere condolences to the family on your loss.
My Father thought a lot of you. Thank you for your kindness.
Bob was truly the glue that held the TJ Class of ’59 together for 60+ years. Thanks be to God that Bob had such a willing and serving heart.
Thank you for your kindness.
I met Mr. Jacobs once and thought he was so kind and sweet. We both had a love of the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Just like to George Bailey in the movie, from his brother Harry Bailey, a toast, “Here’s to Bob Jacobs, the richest man in town!” he was so loved by all. He is now the angel, and he’s getting his wings! So every time I hear a bell, I will think of Bob Jacobs.
I would love to know who you are and how you met my father. I love this comment so much. Thank you!
I am very sorry to read this. I worked for “Jake” at Puritan Cleaners (for many years) and had a great working relationship with him.
He was a true gentleman and a fine person. My condolences to the family….
Thank you for your kindness.
Our prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. We have such fond memories of our times spent together. Always lots of fun and laughter on those special occasions. Love Mike and Connie.
Thank you for your love and support over the last year.
My thought and prayers are with you and family,im very glad to have knowing him,he was a very nice man,always smiling,he will be missed.
Thank you Rodney. He thought you were a kind man as well.
Bob Jacobs , what a wonderful role model for all of us. Kind, generous, a true gentleman, very much involved in community service, and last but not least a devoted classmate in the Tee Jay Class of ’59. Bob will truly be missed. To Liz and the other members of the family, please know our hearts, prayers and thoughts are with you.
Thank you, Russell.
Dear Kat,
I am sorry for your loss. Your father sounds like an exceptional man. Boden (and I) miss you and send you and your family hugs.
THANK YOU KIM FOR YOUR KIND WORDS. HE WAS THE BEST. I MISS YOU TOO.
I know your dad will be missed by many. Such love he had for your mom, you and Adam. May your many wonderful memories of a life well lived and loved give you peace.
xo Beth
Thank you so much Beth.
Dear Kat,
I am so sorry for your lost. Be sure you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Take care friend!
Anamaria Scozzaro
Thank you so much!
I grew up sharing Thanksgiving with my cousin Bob and his family. Bob’s father is my father’s brother. In high school I was in awe of Bob’s ability to act in plays, and once I remember helping him rehearse the lines. Also contrary to our family’s talents Bob could sing. I remember his being a sea Scout and taking boat trips all of his life. It is unfortunate that after the death of our parents, who were brothers, we lost touch. But I was always admiringl my cousin Bob. At one point I asked my mother why it wasn’t possible for cousins to marry, because I would have married Bob. I’m sure he will be missed. Cousin Ginny Jacobs Seacrist
To: Bob Jacob’s Family
I worked part-time at Puritan for Bob from when I was about 14 or 15 until I graduated from Thomas Jefferson, in 1964. About three or four of us would show up at 7 in the morning to work the curb service. Then, around 8 or 8:15 we would leave to go to school.
Sometimes we would come back in the afternoon and work until closing time – but not often. I also worked pretty much full-time during the summers when I was in my junior year at TJ. Sometimes I worked at the Forest Hill Avenue office in the Stratford Hills Shopping Center, and other times I would work at the Parham Road branch right off Patterson Avenue.
Bob was always a terrific boss. Often, he was firm, but he had to be that way in order to control our youthful shenanigans. For example, one morning someone found a cat and put it in one of the curb service bags and put it in the big container with wheels on it and rolled it into the back of the cleaners. There the ladies open, all the bags, spread the clothes out, and organized and labeled them. When one lady opened the bag and the cat jumped out, and she screamed! We all laughed uproariously!
I remember he had an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider convertible, red with black interior. I had a Triumph TR-3. He wanted to show me how fast his Alfa would go. So, one night, after work, he took me for a ride from Puritan out Broad Street about a mile and back. All the way he was running it up through the gears and really flying – until a policeman pulled us over and gave him a speeding ticket! He loved that Alfa!
By the way, I got the job because my family lived next door to Mr. Wyant, the owner. Then, I got jobs for my friends. That included Pen Shiflett and Bruce Uram. John Vaughan was a year ahead of us, and he worked there also. As I recall John had a friend, who was also a year ahead of us, who worked there – Jimmy Rogers; he went on to become the president of the Chesapeake Corporation, as I recall, probably due to Bob’s tutoring!
I am now 73, as are the other “boys” of curb service.
On behalf of them, we want to let you know that we all thought highly of Bob, and we respected him greatly for what he had achieved and for his solid work ethic. As guys like to say, “He was a hard charger.”
Bob raised us well!
He was a great guy, and I will always remember him and be grateful for the little things he taught us about developing a strong work ethic.
Best wishes to your family.
With sympathy,
Bob
Thank you all for sharing your memories of Bob. Many brought smiles to our faces as we read them. The Jacobs Family
I knew Bob many, many years ago when I worked with him at Hand Craft Cleaners in Richmond. I am forever grateful for everything I learned from him about life, work and all things in between. I was very sad to hear of his passing but I am lucky enough to be left with so many wonderful memories of the couple of years that we worked together and laughed until we couldn’t laugh anymore. (When Independence Day rolls around, I’m always reminded to make sure to go out on the 3rd and get a fifth for the 4th.) You were one of a kind, Bob. There will never be another one like you. It will always be my pleasure to have known you and I thank you for that. My condolences, regards, love and respect to the family. He will truly be missed.