Russell Turner Jacobs

1918 - 2010

Russell Turner Jacobs, son of the late Reuben Turner and Vera Mae Bandy Jacobs passed away of natural causes in Palm Desert, Calif. on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at the age of 92. He was born on July 28, 1918 in Columbia, Mo. He was a graduate of Hickman High School and the University of Missouri and was a member of Kappa Alpka fraternity and Delta Sigma Pi Business fraternity. He was a B-17 pilot and assistant group operations officer with the 99th Bomb group - 15th Air Force based in North Africa and Italy during World War II. He passed his physical with the Army Air Corps on December 6, 1941 and was discharged in 1946 with the rank of Major. His group was the first to fly overseas in the formation from West Palm Beach, Fla. to Africa. They also flew on a shuttle mission from Italy to Poltava, Russia to draw German fighters off the location where D-Day was to take place spending eleven days there. He worked for Dunn/Edwards Corporation for 57 years starting in the accounting position and eventually becoming President. He was a member of Hollywood Masonic Lodge, Pasadena Scottish Rite, Al Malaikah Shrine Temple, Court 84 Royal Order of Jesters and Desert Jesters. He was a resident of Glendale, Calif. for forty-one years having just moved to the desert in October of 2010. He is survived by his wife of sixty six years, Muriel; two children, Linda M. McCoy and husband Jim of Palm Desert, and Robert T. Jacobs and wife Mary of Rancho Mirage; five grandchildren, Michael T. Jacobs and friend Jenny Gilliam of Healdsburg, Kelly M. Ocampo (Carlos) of Torrance, Kristy A. Jacobs and friend Kevin Ramirez of Anaheim, Kevin M. McCoy and friend Jen Gilmini of Ft. Collins, Colo., Jamie C. Reilly (Ted) of Scottsdale, Ariz. and two great-grandchildren, Christian and Katherine Ocampo. He is also survived by his sisters, Mary Katherine Sells (O.V.) of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., Dorothy Jacobs Hatfield of Columbia, Mo., Vera Frances Coats (Russell) of Lake Wales, Fla.; a brother, Bandy Jacobs of Columbia and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by brothers, Richard and Reuben Jr. and sister Betty. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Russ' honor to Shriners Hospital for Children (L.A.) or charity of your choice. Services will be held on Friday, November 19, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at the Ramon Chapel at Forest Lawn Cathedral City, Calif. To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: mydesert.com/obituaries