William Bernard Jenkins

JENKINS, William Bernard, beloved husband, father, grandfather and a proud Marine, died peacefully on December 18, at his Varina home. Born April 26, 1924, he is survived by his daughter, Christine J. Davis (Charles); his son, Gary M. Jenkins (Christine); his brother, Calvin; and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife and life partner, Dorothy; and an infant son, Billy. “WB” was a mentor to all of them as well as to his professional colleagues at Reynolds Metals Company and its successor Alcoa as Senior Development Engineer. He won numerous awards and patents for light weight metals development which produced, among others, the aluminum wheel and components for America’s space program. He retired at the early age of 62 and for the next 29-years enjoyed boating, fishing and crabbing with family and friends at his second home on the Chesapeake Bay, ‘Cottonwood’. In his final days, his life was greatly enriched with loving care from Susan Zehler, Beth Smith and New Century Hospice. The Jenkins family will receive friends at Nelsen Funeral Home, 4650 S. Laburnum Ave., Richmond, Va., Saturday, December 20, 2014, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., where a service will be held, Sunday, December 21 at 1 p.m. Interment, with full military honors, will follow at Washington Memorial Park. Reception to follow at Nelsen Funeral Home.