Virginia Elizabeth Lewis Jacobs

She was born on March 20, 1922, to May Elizabeth (Smith) Lewis and Claude Martin Lewis in Cincinnati. She grew up with her mother in Findlay where she started driving at 12 years old. Jinny graduated from Central High School in Lima and Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware where she received a bachelor of science in pre-medicine/chemistry.

Following college graduation, Virginia worked at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati where she conducted anti-malarial research. Following this position she worked as a materials and process engineer at Westinghouse where she earned a patent.

She married Warren Charles Jacobs of Lima on June 26, 1948. Jinny was active in the League of Women Voters, the American Association of University Women, and Market Street Presbyterian where she served as an ordained deacon and elder. She also taught in the Head Start program at Mizpah Mission in the south side of Lima and worked as a commercial realtor.

A lifelong proponent of education, Jinny was elected to the Shawnee School Board where she served as president, and was a charter member of the Apollo Joint Technical School. These experiences led to her 26-year tenure as an elected member of the State of Ohio Board of Education’s First District. She served in leadership positions as chairperson of various committees. Jinny was one of the three longest serving members in the history of the state board and had a room named after her at the Ohio Department of Education in Columbus. She received the prestigious national Distinguished Service Award for Exceptional Leadership and Dedication in Education. At the conclusion of her board service she received the Ohio Pioneer in Education Award.

Continuing her community involvement, Jinny served on the board of the Veteran’s Memorial Civic and Convention Center and was an advocate for Lima and Ohio.

Jinny and her husband immersed themselves in every way of life possible while becoming seasoned world travelers, often aboard the Marco Polo. They explored the breadth of over 50 countries while maintaining constant connections to Mexico and the Cayman Islands.

Jinny had the unique ability to see the best in others with a Joie de vivre. She never met a stranger and viewed difficult people as her personal challenge. She was an eternal optimist.

Survivors include her four children: Ann (Philip Davies) Jacobs, John (Christina) Jacobs, Holly (Michael Tobar) Jacobs and George (Gordon) Jacobs along with eight grandchildren: Whitney Jacobs-Bush, Andrew Jacobs, Pia Jacobs, Juliet Jacobs, May Tobar, Laura Tobar, Eben Tobar and Talton Jacobs. Her husband Warren preceded her in death.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 7 at Siferd-Orians Funeral Home, 506 North Cable Road in Lima. Her funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 8 at Market Street Presbyterian Church, 1100 West Market Street in Lima. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, Lima.

Contributions in Jinny’s memory may be made to Market Street Presbyterian Church or the League of Women Voters.

Condolences may be expressed at www.siferd-oriansfuneralhome.com