Robert L. (Bob) Jacobson, age 80, died February 6, 2017. He was born in Los Angeles, California, the eldest son of Leonard and Charlotte Jacobson. He spent his early years first in San Gabriel, then in the Denair, Empire and Turlock area where his parents farmed, built houses, and established the Sno White Laundry in Turlock. After attending Denair and Downey High Schools he graduated from Turlock High School in 1955. He pursued his passion for technology and his love for history and the social sciences at Modesto Junior College, the Oregon Institute of Technology, and California State University, Fresno before the draft came calling. After enlisting in the U.S. Army, he was stationed at Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama working in analog computer repair. Once discharged from the Army, Bob moved to Sonora, California to join the family business, Sierra Launderers, Dry Cleaners, and Linen Supply. It was there he met his first wife, Barbara Jean Miller. They had two children, Walter and Mindy. In 1985 he married Sharon Neubaum Arpoika and moved to Oakdale. That same year, after working 25 years in the business, Bob left to attend California State University, Stanislaus. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Social Science in 1987 and his Secondary Teaching Credential in 1988. Following graduation he worked in a number of fields including teaching, farming, and counseling. His last eight years of employment were at the San Joaquin County Jail, where he developed, evaluated, and provided academic instruction to inmates on an individual basis. Upon retirement, Bob used his technology and electronic expertise to develop first the Field Water Alarm for use in flood irrigation and then the Medical Call Attendant for use by family care givers. Bob was also active in the community. He was on the steering committee to develop the Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau serving as board president. He was also a member and president of Sonora Pass Vacation Land. In addition he was elected to the Sonora School Board where he served as chairperson. As a member of Friends Outside he was the liaison person representing Tuolumne County. While in Sonora he was also active in the Kiwanis Club and the Argonaut Lodge No. 8 Free and Accepted Masons. He served as a poll worker for Stanislaus County Elections since 1994, worked on the Friends of the Oakdale Library Book Sale the past few years, and he was a long-time friend of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stanislaus County. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Sharon; his son, Walter of Thousand Oaks, CA; his daughter, Mindy L. Jacobson Steward of Santa Barbara; stepson, Hondo Arpoika (Christy) of Oakdale; grandsons, Trevor, Evan and Ryan Jacobson and Miko and Hondo Arpoika, and granddaughter, Laven Meyer. He also leaves three brothers, Bill Jacobson (Pat) of Turlock, Jim Jacobson of Sonora, and John Jacobson (Marianne) of Columbia and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Leonard S. Jacobson and Charlotte Osborn Jacobson, and his stepson, Miko J. Arpoika. A memorial service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stanislaus County on April 15th, 2017 at 2 p.m. Memorial gifts in Mr. Jacobson’s name can be made to Community Hospice Foundation, 4368 Spyres Way, Modesto, CA 95356 or to the Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Arrangements are being handled by Funeral Consumers Alliance of Stanislaus/Merced Counties through Allen Mortuary, Turlock CA. Please share your condolences and memories to www.AllenMortuary.com.
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
Feb. 15, 2016