Waldo Evan Jacobson

Waldo Evan Jacobson, 91, passed away December 26, 2016, in Payson, Utah, with his wife of 70 years by his side. He was surrounded by family on Christmas Eve day at a dinner and musical program in the Central Utah Veterans Administration Home. He was one of a few surviving ball-turret gunners of World War II.

He was born July 31, 1925, in Morgan, Utah, to Alma Evan and Emma (Bateman) Jacobson, reared in Springville, Utah, and graduated from Springville High in 1940.  Springville was his home for the remainder of his life.

In World War II he flew 24 bombing missions over enemy territory in Germany, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and Northern Italy as a staff sergeant aerial and ball turret gunner on a B-24 Liberator in the 740th Bombardment Squadron in the Army Air Corps. His life was spared twice in crashed landings.  In one of those crash landings he was inspired to remove himself from his seat, which was destroyed, to another location in the plane. He returned to marry Marian Davis, on June 12, 1946, in the Salt Lake City Temple.  Their marriage was performed by Elder Harold B. Lee. After only 11 days of marriage he entered the New England Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving for two years under Elder S. Dilworth Young.

Upon returning, he graduated in elementary education from Brigham Young University in 1951, and began a 36-year career as an educator in Nebo School District teaching at Mapleton Elementary School and Grant Elementary School for twelve years.  Upon completing his Master of Education degree in 1959 (from BYU) he became a principal, first at Mapleton Elementary, then Brookside Elementary, and then Grant Elementary, where he served until his retirement in 1986.  For his pioneering work in introducing Utah’s first year-round school and in individualized learning, he was awarded the Distinguished Service to Education award from the Department of Elementary Education, Brigham Young University in 1975.

A leader in community and church, Waldo served as a member of the Springville City planning committee, a chairman of the Art City Days parade, a chairman of the Art City Museum Art Ball, and a member of the Springville Art Board.  He served as a bishop of the Springville Tenth Ward and as a branch president twice (at BYU and the MTC).  During the 1970s, he served on the Church curriculum committee, writing lessons for Sunday School and Primary (including the introduction of the CTR ring).  Together, he and Marian served as service missionaries at the Missionary Training Center, performed sealings in the Provo Temple weekly for 25 years, and served in the Baptistery for four years.  He was a dedicated home teacher, and was asked to be a speaker at 50 funerals.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Marian, his children: Ann (Weldon) Larsen, John (Marsha) Jacobson, Jane (Peter) Vogel, and David (Kelly) Jacobson; 18 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren; sister Carol (Roy) Stephens, and sister-in-law Flora (Ralph) Jacobson. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Jeri (Wendell) Winger and brother Ralph (Flora) Jacobson.

The viewing will be held Friday, December 30, 2016, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Wheeler Mortuary, 211 E. 200 S. Springville, Utah.  Prior to the funeral, an additional viewing will be held at the church from 9:30 am-10:30 am.  Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 31, 2016, at the Springville Center Street Chapel, 355 East Center Street, Springville, Utah, at 11:00 am.  Interment will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Springville, Utah.

The family expresses their gratitude to the many loving nurses, care-givers, and staff of the Central Utah Veterans Home in Payson, Utah, and to Dr. Kevin Colver (a nephew) for his special loving care.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests you add to your fast offerings, donate to the LDS Missionary, Temple, Perpetual Education funds, or a charity of your choice.