Donald Joseph Jacobs

He attended local schools, included Mt. Whitney High School, where he excelled in sports, particularly baseball. Donald played on the World Series Babe Ruth All-Stars team in 1954 and in 1956 was a member on the Visalia Angels/Oakes baseball team in the later years of 1970’s.

After high school, Don joined the Navy, where he was inducted into service on March 9th, 1956, went into the Naval Reserves in 1960, and completed his service on April 15th, 1962. He loved to tell his grandkids stories about his service on naval cruisers, which included the origin story of his Woody Woodpecker tattoo.

On December 26th, 1962, Don married Eloise Jacobs, and they were married for 66 years. He helped take care of her three children, Claren, Peggy, and David. Don and Eloise created a large home and helped raise three generations of children. Everyone had a birthday celebration at their home every year, and they provided a safe place for everyone to stay, including many stray dogs, cats, and even a pig.

Donald spent many years painting safety stripes on California’s roads. This job took him all over the state, and he loved to share stories of California’s miraculous natural sights. In 1990, he started his own company, Donald Jacobs Distributing (lovingly dubbed “The Shop” by family), where he distributed traffic paints and supplies for roads and parking lots.

He retired in 2010 and settled into a life of what he called “puttering,” spending each morning drinking a large mug of black coffee and completing numerous small projects around the house. Don was also a productive volunteer for Visalia Gleaning Seniors for ten years, helping distribute food and groceries to his fellow senior citizens. He was elected to the board in 2020 and served as a member until his passing.

Donald and Eloise were survived by one son David Zens, four grandchildren, Ronica, Lysa, Carla, and Utahana; six great grandchildren, Jorden, Raymond, Bryce, Nicolas, Faith, and Haley; and two great-great grandchildren, Robert and Lexi (coming February, 2024).

A visitation for Donald will be held Thursday, December 28, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Miller Memorial Chapel, 1120 West Goshen Avenue, Visalia, CA 93291. Following the visitation will be a graveside service from 12:00 PM at Visalia Public Cemetery District, 1300 West Goshen Avenue, Visalia, CA 93291.

Tributes and condolences may be made at www.millerchapel.com for the Jacobs family.