Dr. Charles Robert Jenkins, Ph.D and professor emeritus at West Virginia University, passed away peacefully on Oct. 25, 2018, at Edgewood Summit in Charleston, in the care of many loved ones.
Charles, better known as Bob to his friends, was born Aug. 17, 1930, in Bogota, Ill.
In 1944, he met Bernice Menke on the baseball diamond where they shared a baseball glove and the beginning of many wonderful days ahead. Shortly after, Bob proudly served as a medic in the United States Army.
After his service, he attended Eastern Illinois University, University of Illinois and Oklahoma State University receiving a Ph.D in zoology in 1964. Dr. Jenkins joined West Virginia University in 1961 as a professor of civil engineering, where he researched water treatment and sanitation, taught undergraduate and graduate students and obtained funding for many research projects until he retired in 1992.
Throughout his career, Dr. Jenkins was a dedicated and active member in communities both locally and internationally serving as president of the West Virginia Division of the Izaak Walton League, consultant to the West Virginia State Water and Environmental Quality Board. He also was a Fulbright Fellow where he developed safe drinking water and water sanitation processes for communities abroad including Palau, Cypress, Sri Lanka and Russia.
Bob and Bernice had four children, James, Roger, David and Jolyn. Bob was a pilot and enjoyed flying his family to many destinations. Later, he and Bernice had a cabin at Deep Creek Lake, Md., where they enjoyed relaxing on the water and holidays with loving children and grand children.
He is survived by his wife, Bernice Jenkins; his sons, James, of Charleston, Roger, of Parker, Colo., and David, of Pittsburgh; daughter, Jolyn, of Amesbury, Mass.; and grandchildren, Shane, Allison, Alec, Elizabeth and Adam.
Dr. Jenkins will be laid to rest at Oak Grove Cemetery in Morgantown. He will join his passed sibling, Louis.
At his request, there will be no memorial service.
The family suggests sending memorial contributions to deckerscreek.org/donate/.
Condolences:
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