Close elderly couple die within weeks of each other
Together for almost 60 years, the couple were the former owners of Reliable Electrical Wholesalers.
Retired Brakpan businessman and lifelong resident of the town, Ernest Simon Jacobson, died on Wednesday, last week, at the age of 82.
Oom Ernie, as he was affectionately known, died just weeks after his wife Charmain passed away.
Charmain died on January 6 at the age of 77.
Together for almost 60 years, the couple were the former owners of Reliable Electrical Wholesalers in Voortrekker Road.
Ernest was born in Brakpan on February 2, 1936.
He attended Brakpan High School where he was a keen sportsman and represented the school and town on the hockey and rugby fields.
Ernest acquired his pilot’s licence at an early age and spent many weekends at the local airfield, where he was also chairperson of the club.
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He never gave up learning and continued studying for many years.
Ernest was also a lecturer in electrics and electronics at the local technical college.
In 1955, he and Charmain opened Reliable Electrical Wholesalers, which serviced many homes and factories in Brakpan.
It was the first shop in town to install and supply Philips television sets.
The couple retired and sold the shop in 2009.
In his youth, Ernest was a drummer in a band and he continued this hobby in later years by playing the keyboard and piano at local functions and weddings.
Ernest was one of the first members of the South African Ham Radio Club with the call sign ZS6ATQ and became an avid member of the club.
He was passionate about his home town and spent most of his free time as a police reservist.
Ernest was also an active member of the Brakpan Free Masons and a family man.
He is survived by his daughter, Sandy Jacobson Ngwenya, son-in-law Johnathan Ngwenya, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
His funeral service took place on Monday at St Peter’s Anglican Church.
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