Ronald C. Jenkins

Ronald Craig Jenkins, born Aug. 17, 1937, went to be with the Lord on Sept. 11, 2025.

Ron was born to Lawrence and Bernice Jenkins in Corvallis Oregon before the family moved to Glendale California where his brother Martin was born. Ron was a bright and inquisitive child who asked numerous questions of the adults around him. He admittedly squeaked by his early school years in Glendale - "it was agreed that I had a lot of potential, but I never used any of it." Ron's sarcastic humor always managed to shine through.

After high school graduation, Ron enlisted in the Navy at age 18 and was sent off to boot camp in San Diego. That is where he discovered his aptitude for electronics and the Navy sent him to electronics school. During a weekend pass home, Ron was a passenger on an Amtrak train which derailed in the early hours of the night. Through the darkness, a nineteen-year-old Ron found his way to the window which was now facing up. He assisted numerous other injured passengers to escape out of the overturned car despite his own significant injuries. Twenty-nine passengers were killed that night, including Ron's friend who was sitting right next to him.

While recovering from extensive leg injuries, Ron maintained his education where he excelled in electronics school and graduated first in his class. He was assigned to the USS Toledo. After discharge in 1958, Ron continued his electronics education at Harbor Junior College where he served as President of the Honor Society. Ron then attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the electronic engineering program. Ron excelled in college and graduated a year early with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics in 1963.

Ron married Barbara Bareuther that same year and began working for Control Data as a Project Manager. Son Timothy and daughter Sharon followed along, and Ron couldn't have been a prouder father. The family moved to Vandenburg Village in 1975 as Ron began working for a Computer Science Corporation on the Vandenburg Air Force Base where he helped design large-scale computer server rooms and the needed infrastructure. Ron and Barbara divorced after 15 years of marriage.

After layoffs in the aerospace industry impacted Ron, he struggled to find a new position in his field. Ron "chanced upon an ad for an electrician at Westmont College in Santa Barbara" and despite being considerably overqualified, a fellow Navy veteran took a chance and hired Ron who spent the next 11 years keeping the facilities running. Ron took medical retirement in 2000 and had knee replacement surgery resulting from the train accident decades before.

In 1983, Ron met the love of his life, Carolyn Tinius and they were blessed with a 24 year companionship and a shared life full of meaning. Carolyn passed away in 2007 with Ron at her side after battling cancer.

Ron poured his energy and his devotion to service into the Calvary Baptist Church community in Vandenburg Village. He volunteered countless hours over many years to help keep the facility running, using the expertise he had developed over his career. The church and his numerous friends sustained Ron and provided him comfort throughout difficult days.

A longtime friend summarized it well: "Ron was the ultimate servant. He quietly cared for everyone in every situation he encountered. But it wasn't just what Ron did for people. He was a unique individual, brilliant, an all-around nice strong man who looked at all angles of a problem or project, conscious of the financial bottom line, truly listened, and any personal advice was only given after permission was given."

Loving father to Timothy C. Jenkins (wife Joann) of Newcastle; proud grandfather to Alexandria and husband Thomas, and Laura Jenkins. Loving father to Sharon L. Wolff (husband Steve) of Rio Dell; proud grandfather to Marylynn and husband Casey, great-granddaughter Ellie, Richard and wife Sara, great-grandson Damiano, Shauna and great-grandson Walter, Michael and wife Kathryn, great-grandchildren Benjamin and Samantha, Steven Craig and wife Kiera, great-grandchildren Nathan, Jackson and Iris. Ron is further survived by his younger brother Martin Jenkins of Santa Barbara.

His legacy of steadfast devotion and commitment to his family and church will continue to grow.

Memorial Service will be held Saturday October 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM at Calvary Baptist Church 3355 Constellation Rd, Lompoc, CA All are invited to come and share stories of this remarkable man.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests sending a donation to the Calvary Baptist Church Lompoc in the name of Ronald Jenkins.