Thomas H. Jenkins Jr. of Crozet, Va., died peacefully at home on Monday, September 14, 2015 after a long illness. He was born in Leesburg, Va. on January 22, 1927, the son of Thomas H. Jenkins and Helen Cole Jenkins.
He was raised in Annandale, Va. and served in the U.S. Navy as a ship radioman in the Pacific Ocean theatre during World War II. Thanks to the GI bill, he attended Bridgewater College, where he became President of his Senior Class, quarterbacked the football team, and played baseball in the Valley League. At Bridgewater, he met his bride-to-be, Glasselle L. Branham of Earlysville, VA. They married in June 1950, and had one child, Thomas H. Jenkins III of McLean, VA. He was blessed with three grandchildren, Marissa R. Boynton of Arlington, Va., Brandon T. Jenkins of Washington, D.C., and Tessa T. Jenkins of McLean, Va.; and one recent great-grandchild, Boden R. Boynton. He is also survived by a brother, Richard L. Jenkins of Albuquerque, N.Mex.; and a sister, Elsie B. Horton of Waynesboro, Pa.
He began his career as a chemist and food technologist with the National Canners Association in Washington, D.C. A few years later, he moved to Crozet, Va. and joined Morton Frozen Foods, where he established and ran their food quality control program. While living in Crozet, he also oversaw the food quality control programs in Morton's Russellville, Ark. and Watsonville, Calif. facilities. He continued to work at Morton, later Del Monte Foods, for 33 years, retiring in 1987.

Throughout his life, he was an active civic leader. From 1963 until 1970, he was a member and chairman of the Albemarle County School Board, where he played a leading role in desegregating the Albemarle County Schools. From 1988 until 1995, he was a member and chairman of the Albemarle County Planning Commission. He was also active in the Crozet United Methodist Church, where he was Chairman of the Administrative Board from 1972 until 1998.

He was an avid sportsman and enjoyed fishing, bird hunting, and cooking for his fellow sportsmen. He was also devoted to his wife, son and grandchildren, and enjoyed nothing more than caring for his grandchildren and attending family gatherings. He was an honest, fair-minded, and generous man, respected by his colleagues and co-workers and beloved by his family and friends. He devoted his life to his family and his community. He will be remembered as an outstanding member of "the greatest generation."
A memorial service and reception will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 19, 2015 at the Crozet United Methodist Church. A private family internment will be held at a later date at the Church of the Brethren in Free Union, Va.

The family wishes to express its deep gratitude to caregivers from the Hospice of the Piedmont, especially Tina Whiteley, who cared for Mr. Jenkins for more than two years. Special appreciation is also expressed to neighbor and caregiver Sharon Middleton.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Hospice of the Piedmont or to the donor's preferred charity.