R. Lynn Jacobs

R. Lynn Jacobs, 71, passed away peacefully into her heavenly home, while surrounded by her loving family, under the compassionate care of Hospice of the Panhandle on Thursday, September 26th, 2024. She was a lifelong resident of Martinsburg, WV and was the daughter of the late Robert E. and Jean B. Taylor.

Lynn graduated from Martinsburg High School in1971. She followed in her mother’s footsteps and became a registered nurse dedicating her life to others. She attended Shepherd College from 1971-1975 earning her associate’s degree in nursing, while working as a nursing assistant at Kings Daughters Hospital. Her nursing career began in 1975 in the Emergency Room Department at City Hospital, now known as Berkeley Medical Center. In 1980 she enrolled in the West Virginia University Bridge extension program to further her education and earn her bachelor’s degree while working full-time and being a wife and a mother. Through hard work and perseverance, she graduated from WVU in 1989. Lynn then embarked on a 26-year career as an operating room nurse. She was a dedicated, compassionate, kind, and caring nurse. Lynn was a patient advocate and always spoke with their best interest in mind. She instilled a feeling of calmness, safety, and confidence in her patients before taking them back to the operating room for surgery. Though she had the best sense of humor and always had a way of making others laugh, she took her role as the circulating nurse in the operating room very seriously. Patient safety and the needs of her team and surgeon were always first and foremost. She was respectful, professional, and held sterile technique with the highest and utmost regard. Lynn, fondly called Lynard or Boo Boo by her coworkers, was not only a circulating OR nurse, but one of only a few nurses who could perform dual roles as a circulating nurse or a surgical scrub tech assisting the surgeon during an operation. In 2016, Lynn followed her OR family and friends to the VA Medical Center to finish her career as an operating room nurse where she retired in 2021. During her 46-year nursing career she touched many lives and made a difference in those around her.

Lynn dedicated her entire life to caring for others in her nursing career and in her family. She had an infectious laugh. It was contagious, full of joy, and could be identified anywhere. She always had the best eye conversations and head nods; no words where necessary to know what she was saying. Lynn could find the silver lining in every situation and make it less stressful and more bearable. She had good intentions in everything she did, both great and small. She was a good listener and a faithful friend to many. She was humble and kind and her giving heart was a blessing to all who received from her goodness.

Lynn married her high school sweetheart Gene in 1974. Their life together was filled with a half century of love, memories, hardships, and joys. Together they always exemplified perseverance, resilience, fortitude, endearment, and loyalty to each other and to those around them. She taught us all many important life lessons by the way she lived her life. She instilled the significance of laughter, because life is too short to be taken so seriously. She was confident the good in life always outweighed the bad. She always kept praying, kept moving forward, stayed the course, and was calm. She never panicked or lost her faith. She read her bible. Whenever she was sad, hurt, or discouraged she never stayed there long. She took chances, made plans, got up, and showed up even when it was hard. She was tolerant, forgiving, honest, patient and brave. She found great pleasure in eating good food and thoroughly savored every bite. She knew the importance of a nap and looked forward to one every day. She was strong even when her strength was gone. She never missed an opportunity to call a friend or send a text. She loved reading a good book and knew the value of a dull day. She always chose her battles wisely because she knew some were worth fighting and some were not. She always said, “don’t let a bad 15 minute’s ruin your whole day; just let it go.” She knew the importance of never making big decisions when you were tired or hungry. Most importantly, she knew where her help came from.

Lynn loved spending time with family and friends. She cared deeply for her family and her steadfast, unwavering, and lifelong dedication to them was admirable. She enjoyed all the small, simple pleasures of life like bingo, going out to eat, watching movies and football, sitting on the porch, reading, and of course eating popcorn and Oreo cookies. She will always be remembered for her sense of humor, quick wit, and for making others laugh. In her presence you always felt comfortable and safe and secure to share whatever was on your mind and in your heart.

Lynn’s faith, positive attitude, love of life, and will to live never faltered, even with her terminal cancer diagnosis of CNL (Chronic Neutrophilic Leukemia). She never lost hope even when things seemed hopeless. Her fight to survive was evident in the way she courageously faced every challenge and health crisis this devastating disease threw at her daily. She was a strong, stoic, and poised woman filled with grace and humility. She was a wonderful and loving mother, a faithful wife, and a loyal friend to all who knew her. Lynn was a beautiful soul who always made others smile. There is no one else like her.

Lynn is survived by her husband Gene; daughter Jennifer Fincham and son-in-law Chris, nephews Eric Taylor, Jeremy Taylor, and niece Ashley Taylor Davis; brother-in-law Harry Jacobs and wife MaryAnn; sister-in-law Linda Nealis and husband Bob; sister-in-law Sandy Overholser; Uncle Robert Bradley; lifelong friend Julia Small; and many other very special nieces and nephews, cousins, extended family, and faithful friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers Robert S. Taylor, and David E. Taylor.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, October 7th at 11am at Bethel Assembly of God Church in Martinsburg with a visitation one hour prior to the service at 10am. Interment will follow at Rosedale Funeral Home and Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her memory to The Hospice of the Panhandle for their compassionate and gentle care over her in her final days on this earth.