Thomas Linwood Jenkins, Jr

Thomas (Tom) Jenkins, a resident of Dothan, passed away at Westside Terrace on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. He passed away peacefully of natural causes surrounded by his family. His last few years were spent at Grand South Senior Living where he met numerous wonderful people that became a second family to him.

Tom was born to the late Thomas L. and Elsie M. (Burgan) Jenkins in Baltimore, Maryland on March 25, 1945, the eldest child of the family. He grew up in the Baltimore area where he met the love of his life and started his career as a Forensic Criminalist with the Baltimore County Police Department. During the Vietnam War, he volunteered for the U.S. Army and attended Special Forces Selection earning the coveted Green Beret. He then moved his young family all the way across the country to Hillsboro, Oregon where he continued to serve as Forensic Criminalist and State Trooper for the Oregon State Police and served as an Army Reservist in the Special Forces. He retired from the Army Reserves after 30 years of service as a Special Forces First Sergeant. After retirement, he moved to Killeen, Texas to be a full-time babysitter for his Grandson Colton since both his daughter Jennifer and Son in Law were Officers in the U.S. Army during a time of war. Colton was with them daily in their home in Texas and when Jennifer deployed for 15 months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, they were vital to allowing the careers of their eldest daughter's family to continue. During these crucial years, Colton formed a special bond with his "Pop-Pop". When the Army moved Jennifer and Family to Fort Rucker, they packed up and followed the grandchildren, buying a home in Dothan just down the street from his grandkids. Pop-Pop also was a vital member of his granddaughter, Jadyn, tea parties, if there were real cookies at the table.

Tom always made time for his family never missing a Track Meet or sporting event and spending many weekends driving a horse trailer around to watch his daughter Kristin compete in Equestrian competitions and cheer her on.

Tom loved to hunt and ride ATVs and participated in Civil War Living Histories often with his daughter Kristin, even when they lived in Oregon. Tom was always quick with a smile and loved his sweets, particularly Hershey's chocolate, chocolate cake, and chocolate chip cookies. He especially loved spending time with his grandchildren and was often seen playing soldier one minute and princess the next and attending their many sporting and school events.

He follows his beloved wife of 54 years, Patricia Jenkins. He is survived by his two daughters, Jennifer (Jenkins) Ash and Kristin Jenkins, and two amazing grandchildren, Colton and Jadyn Ash.

A celebration of Tom's life will be held at Sunset Memorial Park on Saturday, August 26, 2023, at 11:00 am. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 10:30-11:00 am.

Sunset Memorial Park Funeral Home (334) 983-6604 www.SunsetMemorialPark.com