Ross Lynn Jacobs' Obituary
JACOBS, ROSS LYNN born in Electra, TX to Aubrey Augusta and Lila Shipman Jacobs. He lived his childhood in Burkburnet, TX. He graduated from high school in Oilton, OK. Ross joined the Navy during World War II and served from July I, 1941 until after V.J. Day in 1945. He served his time in the Navy in the Pacific and was stationed on the battleship “Iowa”. Their ship transported president Roosevelt to and from the Tehran Conference where the President met with Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin. Ross later served on the U.S.S. “Knudson” which took frogmen into the bay at Okinawa and other strategic ports in order to map the floor of the bay to make it safe for the Marines to land. His ship was among many others in the U.S. Naval fleet to anchor in Tokyo Bay when the peace treaty was signed between Japan and the United States of America. After his discharge from the Navy, he attended Oklahoma State University where he earned a degree in Civil Engineering. He married Dora Granada, whom he had met while on a tour of duty in New York City. After graduation from college, he took a job with the Texas Highway Department. They lived in Liberty, Texas. He then took a job with the Dupont Company and they moved to Augusta, Georgia. They had a daughter, Lyn Rae, and a son, Kendall. They chose to move back to Texas where Ross worked for the Engineering firm of Forest and Cotton in Dallas. In 1963, Ross joined with his friends and colleagues Carl Shimek, Clay Romming and Carol Finklea, forming the Consulting Civil Engineering firm of Shimek, Romming, Jacobs and Finkla This firm later became Shimek, Jacobs and Finklea. The firm was active in the long range planning of the city of Plano. This firm still exists under the name of Birkhoff, Hendricks, and Carter. Ross was a Registered Professional Engineer and Professional Land surveyor in the State of Texas. His professional memberships include The American Society of Civil Engineers, National Society of Professional Engineers, American Consulting Engineers Council and American Water Works Association. Ross was a member of Highland Park United Methodist Church and its Wesleyan Fellowship Sunday School Class. Ross was a longtime member of the Sons of the Amerian Revolution and was an avid family history researcher and writer. One of his ancestors, Lt. John Clark marched with Benedict Arnold to Quebec, Canada to try to capture that City at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. His research also revealed that Ross and Abraham Lincoln descended from a common ancestor in Hingham, England. He visited St Andrews, the 13th Century Cathedral in Hingham where his family had worshiped. This cathedral is still being used today. He also went to Hingham, Massachusetts where he visited The Old Ship Church that his immigrant ancestors helped to build. The Old Ship Church is the oldest church in the U.S.A. that has been continually in use for worship. Ross also shares collateral ancestors with presidents George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Gerald Ford. Ross is survived by his wife, Betty Potter Fry Jacobs; his daughter, Lyn Jacobs Miller, her husband Bill and their son Dylan of Irving, TX, his son, Kendall, of Leander, TX; his granddaughter, Tambrey Jacobs Burkhead, her husband Clint and their seven children of Henderson, TN, granddaughter, Tiffany Jacobs Couch and her husband, Andrew, of New Orleans, LA. Ashley Jacobs of Leander, TX, his sister, Angelea Carey of Abilene, TX, nephews Bill Jacobs and wife Paula, Randy Jacobs, Ric Jacobs and wife Nancy, of Duncanville, TX, his niece, Caron Jacobs Barber and husband Bill of Fort Worth, TX. Ross is also survived by his children and grandchildren by his marriage to Betty, Deborah Linda Fry Wilson and her husband David S. Wilson of Tyler, TX and their children Sara Anne Wilson Wynn and husband, Yan and daughter Abby of Tyler, TX, Steven S. Wilson and wife,Kellie of Austin, TX and Frances Elizabeth Wilson also of Austin, TX. Betty’s son Larry Fry and wife, Mary Lou, their son, Derek Fry and daughter, Natalie Fry all of Houston, TX. Ross is preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Dora Granata Jacobs, his parents, his brothers, A.A. (Buster) and Clark Jacobs and his sisters Edith Jacobs Beaver and Jamie Jacobs Gilbreath. Ross was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was a kind, patient, trustworthy and courteous gentleman. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM, Friday, June 14, 2013 at Highland Park United Methodist Church.
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