Joseph H. Jacobs

Joe Jacobs, 90, died peacefully on November 12, 2024. Joe was born on December 27, 1933 in Washington DC to Harry Victor Jacobs and Catherine Bateman Jacobs. As an only child, Joe gravitated toward individual activities which developed a lifelong love of learning and reading. His mother loved to tell the story of him coming home to inform her he had finished every book in their public library.

He graduated from Georgetown Preparatory School in 1951 and went on to receive his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Catholic University in 1955. He joined the United States Air Force which began a lifetime career serving his country.

In 1965 he married Donna Marchitelli Jacobs and together they had two daughters. Joe’s military career spanned 32 years in active duty until his retirement in 1983 after serving in a number of posts in the United States including being a Minuteman, a tour as a navigator in Vietnam, and a leader in Electronic Warfare.

In 2003 he once again embraced his love of learning and earned his PhD in Theology from the University of Dayton. He went on to teach there for 11 years and found a true passion in teaching and counseling students. He credited his time at UD for his ability to stay young and keep his mind sharp. For him, UD was his happy place and he thrived during his time there.

Joe was an active member of St. Luke parish for over 40 years. During that time, he served as Eucharistic Minister and Lecter. He participated in the Christ Renews His Parish retreat and made lifelong friends that he cherished. 

Joe will be remembered for his intelligence, quirky sense of humor, devotion to education and learning, and his dedication to his family. His hobbies included reading, model ship building, and woodworking. He also loved dogs of any kind and regularly told stories about all the dogs in his neighborhood.

Joe is survived by his daughters, Beth (Vince) Schwartz, Trish (Troy Carter) Jacobs, his granddaughter, Emily and his grand puppies, Baxter and Kira.

Memorial Services will be held on Friday, December 13th at 10:30 AM at St Luke Catholic Church in Beavercreek. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Social Services of Miami Valley or the American Heart Association.