Ernest D. Jenkins

Ernest D. Jenkins Jr., 90, formerly of Richwood and West Mansfield, died peacefully early Friday morning April 17, 2015 at Heartland of Marysville.
He was born July 5, 1924 in Vinton County to the late Ernest Sr. and Esta Violet (Vance) Jenkins. On February 3, 1947 he married the former Betty J. Mitchell and she survives.
He was a member of the Richwood First United Methodist Church, the NRA and United Steel Workers. After graduating from Vinton High school, he worked with his father; and using a team of horses, hauled timber, which was used to build railroad ties, out of the hills of southern Ohio. He worked as a fireman on the Erie Railroad before working at Marion Power Shovel. There he was a federally certified welder working on the NASA crawler. He later worked as a set-up man and retired in 1986 after 31 years of service.
Ernie enjoyed gardening, fishing, hunting, cross-country skiing, traveling and anything to do with outdoors. He passed on his love of nature to his children and grandchildren, whom he loved deeply. He enjoyed raising farm animals in his younger years. He also loved to watch and play basketball. Ernie was known for his honesty, even to a fault.
Besides his wife he is survived by a daughter, Beverly (Merrill) Staley, West Mansfield; a son, Randy D. (Susie M.) Jenkins, Fayette County, West Virginia; seven grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren, Angela (George) Hill, London and their children, Delaney and Katie; Matthew (Andrea) Staley, West Mansfield and their children, Rhett, Ryan and Brady; Mark (Betsy) Staley, Casstown and their children, Kendal and Caleb; Debra Hundley, Fayette County, West Virginia and her children, Jessica Pugh, Emily, Carly, Tia and Brianna; Amy Cunningham and her children, Patti and Elijah; Megan Jenkins Shrewsbery and her children, Noah and Bethany; and Amanda Jenkins and her son, Addison. He was preceded in death by an infant sister.
Friends may call Sunday April 19, 2015 from 2 to 4 pm at the Stofcheck-Ballinger Funeral Home in Richwood. Funeral services will be Monday, April 20, 2015 at 12:00 noon at the Richwood First United Methodist Church with Pastor Joseph Rhea officiating. Burial will follow in the Claibourne Cemetery.
Memorial gifts may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 18 S. Fulton Street, Richwood, OH 43344 or Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) , 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, Florida 32256.
Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.stofcheck-ballinger.com