James L Jacobs

Sonny or Luther, as he was known at that time, was a lively athlete in soccer, basketball, track, and baseball. He was class president when he graduated from Frederick Sasser High School in 1951. He quickly enlisted in the United States Air Force, his service branch of choice, to avoid being drafted into the Army. Jake was a navigator, radar bombardier and intelligence officer in the United States Air Force. During his twenty years of service, he flew all over the world on different assignments with the Strategic Air Command. Returning stateside, in 1955, Jake married the first love of his life and first grade sweetheart, Janet June Buck. They were married for 44 years and raised two children. Jake retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. The Air Force was good to him but he “was good to it too.”

James graduated from the University of Nebraska with a bachelor's degree in economics in 1964. He moved to San Antonio in 1971 to begin his second career as a stockbroker with Shearson Hammill Stone. After twenty-four years, he retired as Vice President, Investments from Morgan Stanley Dean Witter.

Following the death of his first wife, Jim found love again and married his second wife, Mary Vera Hinojosa in 2002. He enjoyed participating in church activities, traveling, and hosting family events with Mary.

Jim spent his later years at Franklin Park Sonterra making friends in the community, many of whom turned into family. Jim, along with several of his friends, formed the unofficial International Breakfast Club and gathered daily for an early breakfast.

From his humble beginnings as a sharecropper's son, Jim had a passion for gardening. Often, he could be found planting, nurturing, and harvesting a variety of fruits and vegetables. If he wasn’t maintaining his own garden, he was mentoring someone on how to start their own.

Another one of Jim’s favorite activities was entertaining his great grandchildren. He loved to be silly, tell jokes, play tricks, and perform “grandpa magic”.

James is survived by his sister, Geraldine Mae Hagen, his daughter, Danielle (Mark) Applegate; grandchildren Angela Applegate, Melissa Applegate, Rebecca (Bryan) Mosier, Rachael (Chase) Borden; great-grandchildren, Lily, Lila, Luke, Logan Mosier, and Oliver, George, Lionel, Victoria Borden.

He is also survived by his stepsons Richard and Jon Hinojosa, grandchildren, Rob (Rachel) Duffey, Madelyn Duffey, Olivia Hinojosa, Camille Roy, and great-grandson, Max Duffey.

James was preceded in death by his parents (Ashby Columbus Jacobs and Mary Hunter Myers), brother (Eugene Irtst Jacobs), first wife (Janet June Buck), son (Darrell Kevin Jacobs), second wife (Mary Vera Hinojosa), and stepdaughter (Thelma Duffey).

James was a good man, loved by all who knew him and will be greatly missed.

Services will be held Thursday, August 1, 2024 at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home (1701 Austin Hwy San Antonio, TX 78218). Visitation with family is at 9:30 am. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will begin at 10:30am and a light lunch will be served 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Final interment with Full Military Honors to follow at 2:00 p.m. at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. (1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, Texas 78209).

Donations can be made on Jim’s behalf to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Tunnels to Towers Foundation.