John Lee Jenkins

WEST COLUMBIA - John “Jack” Lee Jenkins passed away on Tuesday, October 9, 2012. He will be laid to rest at 3:00 p.m. Friday, October 12, 2012 at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, West Columbia Chapel with entombment in Southland Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.

Born in Bennettsville, SC on January 27, 1926 to John H. and Ethel P. Jenkins. Jack was a graduate of the University of South Carolina with his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Engineering became a lifelong passion for Jack, who was a highly regarded engineer and accomplished everything from underground high temperature water systems at Forts Jackson and Gordon to high-pressure steam systems on docks to serve nuclear submarines. As a consulting engineer, he designed more than 3,000 heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems still used in the United States and abroad. He was honored to receive the designation of Professional Engineer (P.E.), and was also the proud author of educational texts in the area of engineering.

Jack was predeceased by his parents, his brother, James Jenkins and his eldest son, John “Johnny” Lee Jenkins, Jr. He is survived by two sons, Joseph Michael “Mike” Jenkins and his wife, Caroline as well as John H. Jenkins. Jack is also survived by two daughters, Deborah Jenkins Anderson and her husband, Jim as well as Teresa Jenkins Brinkley and her husband, Chris, all of Columbia. He is also survived by his brother, Warren Plexico Jenkins and his wife, Carolyn. Jack leaves behind a legacy with his five grandchildren: three grandsons, Alden Brinkley, Christopher Brinkley and Garrett Anderson, as well as two granddaughters, Jessica Anderson Huffer and her husband, Michael and Elizabeth Jenkins Baker and her husband, Rocky.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to University of South Carolina School of Engineering Scholarship Fund to support young minds who share Jack’s passion for engineering.