Bruce Ashley Jenkins, licensed engineer
Bruce Ashley Jenkins, 91, of LaVale, Md. passed away Sunday March 30, 2014.
Born Nov. 9, 1922, in Scranton Pa., he was the son of the late N. Ashley and Ruth Taylor Jenkins. His wife of 47 years, Barbara Mumford Jenkins, preceded him in death in 1993. Surviving are his brother David Jenkins and his wife JoAnn of Sunset Beach, N.C.; a daughter, Sherry Jenkins Dare of Ocean City Md.; a son. Mark Ashley Jenkins of LaVale and his wife Lisa; five grandchildren, Andrew Dare and his wife Kim, Jason Dare and his wife Carrie, Ryan Dare, Nicole Jenkins and Rachel Jenkins. He was blessed with great-grandchildren Lexie and Karina; several stepgrandchildren; and a stepgreat-grandchild. He also leaves behind his wonderful care givers Helen and Mary.
Mr. Jenkins graduated from high school in Georgetown in 1940 and college at Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, N.Y. in 1944 with a bachelor’s degree in engineering. He was very proud to have served his country in World War II in the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and received honorable discharges from the Navy as a lieutenant, the Merchant Marines as a chief engineering officer, U.S. Coast Guard and the Air Force Civil Air Patrol. In 1942 he was accepted as a midshipman and was placed on a new Liberty ship to deliver war cargo to troops by way of Russia. He traveled in all war zones during this time, became a commissioned Navy ensign and worked on merchant ships until his discharges.
After graduation he became a licensed professional engineer and worked for the DuPont Company in Wilmington, and later for Hercules/Allegany Ballistics Laboratory Inc. in Rocket Center, W.Va. He became senior facilities engineer for ABL where he was involved in energy conservation. In 1974 his report “Control of Ventilation and Energy Savings” was published in Chemical Engineering Magazine. Mr. Jenkins was active in the ABL Cost Reduction Program and was named Cost Crusader of the Year four times. He served on the board of the LaVale Sanitary Commission for 15 years, the last seven as chairman of the board.
He was a member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, BPO Elks Lodge 63 and VFW Post 1411.
Many things brought joy to his life-his family, his many friends, his German shepherd dogs, music always, the ocean at Rehoboth Beach and Myrtle Beach, “Weiner Dawg,” fishing and much more.
Graveside services will be held at All Saints' Episcopal Cemetery, 20274 Beaver Dam Road, Harbeson, Monday, April 7, at 2 p.m.
