Col. Jacob Katz (USA Ret.)

COL. JACOB KATZ (Ret.), of Houston, died December 15, 2001. Jacob was born February 22, 1915 in New York City, to Lena and Harry Katz. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mollie, to whom he was married for 56 years. Jacob is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Gail and Fred Coveler and their sons Ira and Andrew, and by his son and daughter-in-law, Howard and Cindy Katz and their daughter Chelsea, and by his extended family of Linda and Lewis Coveler and their children Lori and Matthew and his wife, Karen. Jacob is also survived by his nieces Harriet Tobenfeld and her husband Sol, and Marsha Pentecorva and her husband Anthony and by special friends Bob and Nelda Meyer. He was preceded by his parents, brother Nathan Katz and sister Sarah Rubenstein. In 1978, Jacob retired from New York Telephone Co. where he worked many years as a supervising internal auditor. He was also retired from the United States Army, after having served in World War II, the Korean War and other various national flare-ups. But like many soldiers, he never really left the Army. During his life, Jacob had three names. In his childhood, he was Jacob; then in the service and throughout his prime, he was Jack; and then as he became elderly and at the last, he was Jacob again (although always preceded by Colonel). Among his attributes was an incredible ability to fix mechanical things. For years, his family had many televisions others had given up on. When mechanics and repairmen were unable to fix things, Jack would order the manuals and inevitably fix things himself. During his almost 20 years in Houston, Jacob spent much of his time volunteering at St. Joseph's Hospital and at Channel 2 as a member of Aiken's army. He also got to be well known to the checkers at the various grocery stores where he shopped and made friends. He was a very nice, special man. And his family knows his last words would be "Get on the ball". Funeral services will be on Sunday, December 16, 2001, at 2:00 p.m. at Beth Yeshuren Cemetery, N. Post Oak at Old Katy Road, Houston, Texas. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Jacob's remembrance to a military veteran's organization of choice. Also his family wants to thank Julia McGill, Jacob's caregiver in the last months of his life, for her wonderful aid and spirit and the staffs at VITAS Hospice and Concierge Nursing Home.