Frederic C. Jacobs | Constable, 74

Frederic C. "Jake" Jacobs, 74, of Newtown Square, a state constable in Delaware County, died of cancer Sunday, June 5, at Neighborhood Hospice in West Chester.

Mr. Jacobs had been a constable since 1979, transporting prisoners, making arrests, serving warrants and legal papers, and collecting fines for the county court system.

He initiated a firearms program for Delaware County constables, and for many years qualified them in the use of firearms. For seven years, he was a firearms instructor at the police academy at Delaware County Community College. He organized competitive shoots at constable conventions, and in 1991 was the recipient of a plaque from the Delaware County courts for his dedication as a firearms instructor and his contributions to the annual state pistol shoot.

In 1987, he was honored as outstanding constable of the year by the Pennsylvania State Constables Association.

Mr. Jacobs grew up in Upper Darby and attended Upper Darby High School.

He served in the Navy aboard ships in the Mediterranean.

After his discharge, he worked in construction and for TV Guide. Then, for more than 19 years, he operated trains, buses and trolleys for what became the Red Arrow Division of SEPTA. He and his wife met when she was a passenger on a train to Norristown he was operating.

Mr. Jacobs enjoyed riding his motorcycle with his wife, and socializing with members of the PAX Chapter of the Blue Knights Motorcycle Club.

In addition to his wife of 43 years, he is survived by a son, Robert; daughters Cathleen Marohn, Laurel McVaugh, and Bonnie Caldwell; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be at noon Thursday, June 9, at Frank C. Videon Funeral Home, 2001 Sproul Rd., Broomall. Friends may call from 10 a.m.

Donations may be made to American Cancer Society, 1615 West Chester Pike, Suite 102, West Chester, Pa. 19384.