Thomas Paul Jenkins, Sr.
He was
the husband of Betty Beck Jenkins (Mimi) of Wilmington, with whom he shared over
61 years of marriage. Paul was born in Wilmington on September 14, 1913, son
of the late David B. (Bart) and Mary (Hattenfield) Jenkins and was
predeceased by a sister, Helen McCann of New York and brother, David B.
(Bart) of Marshallton. He began his education at Brandywine Springs, a one
room schoolhouse outside of Newark and he then attended Newark High School.
Paul began his career as a groundhand in the Line Department at Delaware
Power and Light in September 1929. With hard work and dedication he attained
the position of Superintendent of Transmission and Distribution, retiring
from Delmarva Power in May 1978 with almost 50 years of service. His career
was interrupted with the bombing of Pearl Harbor and he enlisted on December
10, 1941. He proudly served his country during WWII with the 699th Battalion,
5th Air Corp; he spent his entire time in the service with Signal Corp in
both Australia and New Guinea. He was honorably discharged on October 7,
1945, having attained the rank of Master Sergeant for the third time! Paul
was a 32rd Degree Mason and belonged to both Washington Lodge No. 1 AF &
AM and Granite-Corinthian Lodge No. 34 AF & AM and in addition the
Masonic Club of Delaware. In 1954, he and his wife joined Aldersgate United
Methodist Church in Fairfax. He was a member of Delaware Veterans of World
Wars and the Friends of Brandywine Springs. He enjoyed fishing, hiking and
horseback riding with his family and his dog Soccer in the Brandywine Valley.
Paul had many friends who all enjoyed his quick wit and his warm personality.
In
addition to his beloved wife Mimi, he is survived by 2 sons, David L. and his
wife Rowena of Oxford, PA and their children Josh and his wife Alyson, Jenna
and Brad; and Thomas P. and his wife Wanda of Newark, DE and their children
Tom, Mark and Anna. He also had 3 nephews that he loved dearly. Paul and Mimi
are most proud of their family. The
family will receive friends from 6-8 pm, on Wednesday, January 14, at MCCRERY
FUNERAL HOME, 3924 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803. A Celebration of Life
will follow on Thursday, January 15, at 11 am, at Aldersgate United Methodist
Church, on Concord Pike. Interment
will follow the service at Gracelawn Memorial Park. In lieu
of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Paul's name to Shriners
Hospital for Children, 3551 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19140; or
Granite-Corinthian Lodge No. 34, Lombardy Hall, PO Box 7036, Wilmington, DE
19803.
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