White River Jct., VT – Leonard R. Jacobs, 93, died at home with his family at his side on Tuesday November 13, 2018. He was born December 4, 1924 at the family home in White River Jct., the son of Leon Floyd and Edith Alice (Cole) Jacobs.  Leonard was drafted into the US Navy shortly before graduation from Hartford High School.  He served from 1943 until 1946 aboard several ships in the Pacific Theater of World War II, witnessing some of the most difficult battles of the war, including the battle of Iwo Jima where he saw the flag raised on Mt. Suribachi.  After the war he returned to White River Jct. and began working with his father at Jacob's Taxi.  He was married to his childhood friend, Jacqueline Johnson on June 5, 1949 at the White River United Methodist Church.  As a re-enlisted member of the Naval Reserves he was called back to active duty during the Korean War the day after his daughter was born, this time serving aboard a mine sweeper out of Charleston, SC.  When his father retired from the taxi business, Leonard drove truck for Gay's Express for a time before beginning his 28 year career at the US Post Office in White River Jct. He held a number of positions at the post office over the years ranging from custodian to mail clerk and retired in 1985 as a mail handler in the processing center.

Mr. Jacobs enjoyed trips to Newfoundland and Northern Maine fishing and hunting moose, attending LCI 1056 reunions throughout the southeast US as well as time on Cape Hatteras, NC.  The family also visited Lake Sebago in Maine the same weeks every year for the past 58 years, making life long friendships with generations of neighboring campers.  He was a lifetime member of the American Legion and the Veteran's of Foreign Wars in White River Jct. and also belonged to the NRA, Trout Unlimited, the Upper Valley Camera Club in Hanover and a local Ham radio club.  He was also very active at the White River Junction United Methodist Church. In recent years, as his eyesight worsened he enjoyed listening to books on tape provided by the Vermont Department of Libraries.

Leonard was intrigued with knowing how things worked and could fix or make almost anything.  Over the years he did everything from making snowshoes for the whole family to building his own radios to creating a dune buggy out of a VW bug.  He also spent many hours fixing and building things at the Methodist Church including helping to install an elevator for the handicapped.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Jackie, and daughter Linda Johnson both of White River Jct.; a grandson Brandon Johnson of Burlington; siblings Pauline Foley of White River Jct.; Stuart Jacobs and wife Anzi of Shelburne, VT; Leon F. Jacobs Jr. and wife Doris of White River Jct.; as well as many nieces, nephews and a cousin.

Visiting hours will be held at the Knight Funeral Home in White River Jct. Tuesday November  20 ^th from 4-6PM.  A funeral service will be held at the White River Junction United Methodist Church on Wednesday November 21 ^st at 11AM.

Condolences to Leonard's family may be made in an online guestbook at knightfuneralhomes.com .  Contributions in his memory may be made to The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, LA or the charity of your choice.