Richard Jenkins

1947 - 2013

Richard Jenkins

Richard W. Jenkins, a long time resident of Trenton, Ill., born Oct. 2, 1947, in Scranton, Pa., died Friday evening, Oct. 4, 2013, surrounded by numerous friends and family members at St. Joseph's Hospital in Breese, Ill., after a valiant battle with cancer.

Rick graduated from Blakely High School in 1965. After earning degrees from Keystone Junior College and Pennsylvania State University, he served his country for 20 years in the United States Air Force, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1992.

In addition to his military career, Rick was a commercial airline pilot, flying for Ozark Airlines, TWA, and American Airlines. He was also an aviation instructor at Southwestern Illinois College.

He was a member of Trenton First United Methodist Church, as well as the Kingsbury Lodge 466 F. & A.M. of Olyphant, Pa., and the Trenton Lodge 0109 F. & A.M. of Trenton, Ill. He was also a member of VFW Post 7983 and American Legion Post 778. He enjoyed being a volunteer driver for Western Clinton County Senior Services.

Heavily involved with Scouting, Rick served as Pack 39 Cub Master and Troop 39 Assistant Scout Master. He was a member of Order of the Arrow and the Tribe of Manasseh, and he was the very proud father of two Eagle Scouts.

Rick was a devoted and loving husband, father, and brother, and will be greatly missed. He was a strong, independent, and generous man who was not afraid to take on any challenge. He was very active in the community and dedicated to any endeavor he undertook.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard W. and Enid B., nee Buckingham, Jenkins; and his father-in-law, Abraham Organ.

Surviving are his wife Joan, nee Organ, Jenkins of Trenton, Ill., whom he married on May 16, 1987, in Blakely, Pa.; his daughter, Megan (spouse Blossom) Coryat of New York, N.Y.; two sons, Richard W. of Endicott, N.Y. and James M. of Trenton, Ill.; his sister, Linda J. (spouse Ted) Oakey of Gaithersburg, Md.; his mother-in-law, Margaret Organ of Newfoundland, Canada; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Trenton First United Methodist Church or American Cancer Society. Expressions of sympathy can be sent to www.mossfuneralhome.com

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, 2013, and 9 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013, at the Moss Funeral Home, Trenton, Ill.

Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013, at the First United Methodist Church in Trenton with Pastor Mike Rucker officiating. Interment with full military honors will take place in Trenton Cemetery, Trenton, Ill.

MOSS FUNERAL HOME, Trenton, Ill.