Jack Jobe

ENFIELD - Major Robert Elmer (Jack) Jobe (USAF Ret.), 79, died Friday, March 7, 2014. He was born in Wilson County, December 21, 1934 to Pearl Lee Rose Jobe and Arthur Elmer Jobe.

He is survived by his wife, Linda Gardner Jobe of Enfield; a son and daughter-in-law, Dr. R. Lee Jobe and Donna Crump Jobe; and a grandson, R. Tyler Jobe, and a granddaughter, Lydia A. Jobe, all of Raleigh; and mother-in-law, Emilie Crawford English of Wilson.

Robert Jobe graduated from Elm City High School in 1953 and with honors from NC State College in 1957 where he received a commission as AFROTC Second Lieutenant. After a brief period as an engineer with the NC Highway Department, he entered active duty with the Air Force in January 1958. A year later he won his wings as an AF pilot. He served as a flight instructor at Laredo and Reese AF bases; as base Chief of Safety at Reese AF Base, McConnell AF Base in Kansas, and Da Nang Air Field, Republic of Vietnam; Operations Officer at Osan Air Base, Korea, and Shaw AF Base, SC, and AF Liaison Officer with the NC Civil Air Patrol headquarters in Charlotte. He retired from the Air Force in 1973 with the rank of Major. During his Air Force career, he accumulated over 4,100 hours of flying time in the T-33, T-34, T-37, and T-38 trainers, the F-105 and F-4 fighters, and the C-47 cargo airplane and the L-20 and Cessnas 172 and 182 Aircraft. He earned Air Force Command Pilot rating and the Commercial airplane pilot rating.

His military decorations and awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorius Service Medal, the AF Commendation Medal, the AF Outstanding Unit Award, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Air Force Longevity Service Medal, the Small Arms Marksmanship ribbon, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

After retiring from the Air Force, Robert completed a Master's Degree in Mathematics Education at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Moving then to Enfield in 1979, he taught math in Halifax County Schools for four years and at Halifax Community College for 14 years. At HCC he also served as chairman of the Mathematics Department and the Industrial and Vocational Occupations Division. In 1996 he was selected HCC Employee of the Year and retired shortly afterwards.

After retirement, he volunteered on Mondays at Nash Day Hospital Endoscopy department and also at Nash Volunteer Services on Wednesdays.

Visitation will be at 11:00 AM Monday at Wilson Memorial Service, 2811 Fieldstream Drive N Wilson. A Graveside service will be in Maplewood Cemetery at 12:30 pm. The Rev. Charles Bartholomew will lead the service assisted by the Rev. Frank Crump.

Memorial Donations may be sent to Enfield Fire Department, PO Box 815, Enfield NC 27823 or EMS, 12847 Hwy 481, Enfield, NC 27823.