On January 23, 1931, James was born to Charles Henry & Olive Ruth Jacobs in Modesto at home on G Street. He attended local elementary schools, Roosevelt Junior High where he enjoyed playing baseball and running track, and Modesto High School.
As a child, he spent time with his two brothers, Bill & Dick, riding bicycles, fishing, swimming in canals and finding trouble to get into. He told stories of raking gravel at a neighborhood gas station for quarters and sodas.
After school he loved going to his friend, Gordon's, parents' restaurant and eating Chinese food.
Jim met the love of his life, Shirley Ann Starr, when he was working at an automotive shop next door to her home at the fire house where she lived with her family on Scenic Drive.
Jim joined the Navy at age 18. He loved and was proud of his time of service and being on the ship,
USS Onslow. Prior to shipping out, Jim married Shirley on December 24, 1950. As he sailed out of San Francisco the newlyweds waved at each other, she from the Golden Gate Bridge and he from the ship. The young couple loved military life.
Jim & Shirley had five children, Cheryl Ann, Larry Charles, Jana Lynn, James Ross, and Lori Lee. Jim always said he loved having his kids at a young age so he could grow up with them. The family of seven was often busy camping, skiing, watching Jim race motorcycles, and being with family. Fishing & hunting were a couple of his favorite activities.
Jim was a great mechanic and could fix just about anything. Duck tape was definitely his go to for repairs. He was a great teacher of a variety of skills including automobile repair and other types of equipment maintenance.
Shirley loved to tell the story of how he disassembled and reassembled a motorcycle in their living room! Jim loved to tell about partially burying a motorcycle in their yard for both the Jacobs and neighborhood children to "ride".
Jim worked for many years at Asbill 's Appliance prior to working for Modesto Junior College. He retired from MJC in 1993 and began traveling with his wife and best friend, Shirley. They purchased a large motor home and spent 22 years going on adventures together. A couple of their favorite places were Mexico and Yuma, AZ.
where they became fast friends with fellow RV enthusiasts.
Loving each other through better & worse, Jim & Shirley wrote a wonderful love story: setting an example to their children, 9 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren; holding hands to the end, and proud of starting this family of 42 (at present). Who knows the final number?
