Richard "Rip" Jenkins

Richard "Rip" Jenkins, 71, devoted husband of 44 years to Kathy Ingels Jenkins, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, September 5, 2024, surrounded by his loving family.
Born in Mount Vernon, IL, he was a son of the late Joseph Edward Jenkins and Wilma Ruth Jenkins Highsmith.
Rip was called to serve the Lord and started preaching at the age of sixteen. Preaching at churches in Missouri and Illinois for over 40 years, he touched countless lives with his compassion, wisdom, and unwavering faith. Rip and Kathy met at a Youth for Christ camp, thanks to Kathy's continuous prayers for a Christian man who was a pastor. They married in October of 1980 in Missouri, forging a partnership of love and dedication to serving God that would span a lifetime. Along the way, Rip served as a missionary in Nicaragua and Honduras, with various short-term trips to other countries, helping those in need and spreading the message of God's love to all people. Rip and Kathy even lived in Nicaragua for a year. In 2013, they moved to South Carolina to be closer to their daughter and her growing family. Over the years, Rip has left a lasting impact on all who were fortunate enough to know him.
Known for his infectious personality, Rip never met a stranger and had a gift for making everyone feel welcomed and cherished. His laughter and joy lit up every room he entered, and his presence was a true gift to all who knew him. Passionate about serving seniors, Rip dedicated his later years to entertaining, leading, and helping senior adults live quality lives. For the past five years, he served as a volunteer chaplain at Maple Brook Terrace Senior Community in Greenville and worked with various organizations to enhance the quality of services offered to the senior community. For ten years, Rip has served as an Executive Director with The John Maxwell Team.
Rip's favorite place was a 40-acre property, nestled west of Colorado Springs near Cripple Creek, that he and his siblings owned. He had a passion for working with his hands, whether it was repairing electronics or mending broken furniture. Christmas was especially close to his heart; he found great joy in decorating with lights and embracing the festive spirit. In recent years, Rip made it a tradition to spend the holidays traveling with his family, creating unforgettable memories and embarking on new adventures with his grandchildren.
His legacy of love, kindness, and quick wit will forever be treasured in the hearts of his faithful wife, Kathy; daughter, Erin Hart and husband, Paul; four precious grandchildren, Nora Gray, Ezra William, Silas Rex, and Micah Cannon all of Greer; sisters, Linda Lamb of Blandinsville, IL, and Karen McLeod of Benton, KY; brother, Len Jenkins of Lucas, TX; nieces, Andrea Ferguson of Blandinsville, IL, and Kate Fenn of Lucas, Texas.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, September 14, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, Downtown. The memorial service to celebrate Rip's life will be held on Sunday, September 15, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. at NewSpring Church, 625 S. Pleasantburg Dr., Greenville, SC, 29607.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The John Maxwell Leadership Foundation by visiting www.maxwellleadership.org/give.
Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Rip with the family by clicking on the button labeled "Share A Memory".