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Thank You Charley for Touching Our Lives

Charles Thurston Jacobs passed away peacefully of natural causes at home on Monday, April 7, 2008. He was 86 years young. Charley was born to Henry Coleman Jacobs and Hilda Sanson Jacobs on November 30, 1921, in Beeville, Texas, and spent his early years in Knickerbocker, Texas. He was the youngest of three children. He attended college at San Angelo Junior College where he met his future wife, Peggy. Charley and Peggy eloped on May 6th, 1940 to Zaragoza, Mexico, and they shared 67 wonderful memory-laden years together.

Shortly after marriage, Charley joined the Navy where he served as a bombardier in World War II. He saw action with his squadron in Saipan and the Bonin Islands. He flew in more than forty combat missions, and was recommended for the Air Medal with two Bronze Stars. Charley and his crew were credited with rescuing twelve fliers from the open sea, and the evacuation of 212 wounded American soldiers and Filipino guerrillas.

After he left the service, he worked for Holcomb Blanton printers in San Angelo. Texas, until 1955, when he moved his young family to Olympia. After a short stint with George Warren Quick Print, he gained employment with the Washington State Department of Printing, where he worked his way up to the position of shop foreman, and ultimately retired at the age of 65.

Charley was a devout Christian. He was heavily involved in church activities, and served as deacon for the First Baptist Church and later for the McKenzie Road Baptist Church. Charley loved fishing, gardening, and spending time with his extended family. His main goal in life was to raise and provide for his daughters. He had a very large heart, and spent much time quietly lending others a helping hand, never asking for anything in return. He would never, ever, want to "put anybody out". He was well known for his quick wit and somewhat mischievous sense of humor; there always seemed to be a twinkle in his eye and a joke on the tip of his tongue. Above all, Charley was truly a good man, and he will be sorely missed.

Charley was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy; his brother, "Dinky"; and his sister, Susie. He is survived by his daughters, Beth Davis, of Olympia; Helen Sayler, of Molokai, Hawaii; and Jan Jacobs, of Tumwater. The family wants to extend a grateful thank you to his most recent caregivers, Lydia Prewitt, Millie Shawe, and Sheila Stone for their devoted care of Charley, and to the many friends and family members that helped keep his spirits up after his wife passed away.

A viewing is scheduled at Mills & Mills on Friday April 11, 2008 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., 5725 Littlerock Road SW, Tumwater. A short graveside service will be held on Saturday April 12, 2008 at 10:00 a.m., Mills & Mills, directly followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. at McKenzie Road Baptist Church, 215 McKenzie Road SW, Olympia.

Source: The Olympian, April 10, 2008.