DORETTA JACOB

“Dorrie” was born in Elizabeth, NJ on July 25, 1930, to Frederick Hobart Walker and Marie Simpson Walker. She grew up in coastal NJ, where her father worked for New Jersey Bell Telephone Co. Doretta spoke fondly of her childhood; she loved spending time at the beach with her friends and family.

She attended Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA and St. Luke’s School of Nursing in NYC. She received her Bachelor’s and RN in 1953. She worked at St. Luke’s Hospital for three years as Head Nurse.

Doretta met her husband, James Archibald Jacob Jr., at St. Luke’s Hospital, where he was a resident. They married in 1959 in Shrewsbury, NJ. That same year they moved to Clarksburg, WV, and later to Wheeling to be closer to Arch’s parents.

Doretta and Arch had the first of their four children in 1962. After staying home during her children’s formative years, Doretta returned to nursing in a teaching capacity at WV Northern Community College. She also worked as a nurse at Ohio Valley Medical Center, eventually transitioning to Nurse/Office Manager in her husband’s private practice at Wheeling Hospital’s Medical Park. She and Arch retired in 1994.

Dorrie was a warm, caring, generous person – ever quick to befriend, always willing to help. She was passionately involved with numerous organizations through the years, including St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, the Order of the Daughters of the King, the Junior League of Wheeling, League of Women Voters, Volunteers for Better Schools, Wheeling Symphony Auxiliary, Ohio County Medical Alliance, Oglebay Institute and the Mary Dorcas Washington Chapter of Questers. Her love of history extended to her lifelong study and collecting of antiques.

Dorrie was predeceased by her parents, her husband of 58 years, Arch, and her brother Frederick Hobart Walker. She is survived by her brother, John Hobart Walker (Lang), of Franklin Park, NJ, her children John J. Jacob (Jeb), of Fredericksburg, Va, Peter W. Jacob, of Wheeling, Christina M. Jacob (Elias), of Asheville, NC, Elizabeth P. Jacob-Carter (Paul) of Oneonta, NY, and grandchildren Caro Carter, of Helsinki, Finland, Tobias J. Carter, of Oneonta, NY, Nicolai J. Rolett of Brooklyn, NY, Tulie S. Rolett and Tucker W. Rolett of Asheville, NC, Clara M. Jacob of Fredericksburg, VA, and Caiside J. Carter of Bethlehem, as well as many dear friends and relatives.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Personal condolences may be offered to the family at www.kepnerfuneral.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dorrie’s memory may be made to St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, the Order of the Daughters of the King or Oglebay Institute.

Arrangements entrusted to Kepner Funeral Home, 900 National Road, Wheeling, WV 26003 (304-232-2732).