Willard W. Jacobs, 81, passed away November 7th, 2023 at Gulfside Hospice at Heather Hill in New Port Richey, Florida, after a long illness, surrounded by his wife and two sons.
“Bill” was born May 21st, 1942 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Moved to Scotch Plains, NJ where he attended grammar school. He graduated from Abraham Clark H.S. in Roselle, New Jersey where he was co-captain of the football team. He attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois and fulfilled his service in the Army, being Honorably Discharged in 1968. Bill was pre deceased by his parents, Willard L. and Loretta (McCloskey) Jacobs and one brother, Lawrence Jacobs. Bill is survived by his wife of 57 years, Elizabeth “Betta” L (Lenard) Jacobs, his two sons Willard J and Joshua M (Jenny Neely Jacobs), his three grandchildren, Sadie, Nathaniel, and Lola, his siblings, Loretta Warnock, Thomas Jacobs, Elizabeth Maul, Kathleen Jacobs, and Timothy Jacobs.
Bill and Betta were married in 1966 in Roselle, NJ after being high school sweethearts. They briefly lived in Iselin, NJ, moving to Rahway, NJ where they lived for 39 years. He was on the Rahway Public Library Board serving as President. He worked for many years at Industrial Ferguson Foundry Corp., a family owned business from which he retired as Vice President in 2004. He also worked for 5 Years as Security officer at ZooTampa at Lowry Park.
Bill was a proud Army Veteran, lifelong New York Giants fan, and Foundryman.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bill’s memory to Tampa Zoo at Lowry Park.
www.zootampa.org/donate
Margaret & Tony Woods
November 11, 2023, 8:38 am
Many happy and long lasting memories of our time over the last 40yrs spent with you and family, your hospitality to a family of strangers from across the pond fetching a group of boys to play soccer was second to non. The friendship and other visits over the years are forever in our hearts. You will be sadly missed near and far, rest well Bill