| Marvin Edward Jenkins 1919-2008 | ||
|
DryLakes Hall of Fame
|
passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, September 14, 2008 from complications of a recent illness. He was born October 23, 1919, to David Abbott Jenkins and Evelyn Irene Thorstenburg in Blackfoot, Idaho. When Marvin was one year old the Jenkins family, including his older sister Ruth Jenkins, moved to Salt Lake City where he was raised, except for a few years spent in Los Angeles, California. Marvin attended East High School, where he was a quarterback on the football team, and Westminster College in Salt Lake City. In the summer of 1941, Marvin's dad, who was then the mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah had the responsibility of escorting the "Days of '47" pageant queen, Noma Andrus of St George, Utah, to an official function. Upon arriving home that night Marvin's mother woke him and told him they had met the girl they wanted him to marry. On October 11, 1941, Marvin and Noma were married and later sealed together in the St George, Utah, LDS Temple. Through the years he often referred to her as his queen. Marvin's wife and four children were the center of his life. Marvin developed a love for speed through his father who became part of racing history, especially that associated with the Bonneville Salt Flats. He was always a part of his father's many world-record setting runs, served as his relief driver in some of the later efforts, and also set speed records of his own. In terms of his career, Marvin became a Western Airlines pilot at the age of 21 and the youngest captain at the age of 24. However, for most of his career he flew for private concerns. He also owned and operated various businesses including a retail clothing store. He and Noma retired and moved to St George in 1982. At the age of 61 he literally built their retirement home with the aid of family members. In 1991, through negotiations with the state of Utah, he reclaimed his father's race car, the Mormon Meteor III, from the state capital building and personally restored the vehicle to its original running condition. From then on his desire was to promote the car along with its racing history in an effort to honor his father and the heritage of which he was part. Along the way Marvin made many wonderful and lasting friends, but his closest and most treasured friend was always his queen Noma. Marvin is survived by his wife, Noma Andrus Jenkins, and four children: Judith Evelyn Hadfield (husband Bob) of Denver, Colorado; Jeri Noma Hansen (husband Lowell) of St George, Utah; David Abbot Jenkins II (wife Paula) of Denver, Colorado; and Charles Lewis Jenkins (wife Jayne) of College Station, Texas. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 20, 2008, at 11 a.m. at Bloomington Hills 2nd Ward, 750 Ft. Pierce, St. George, Utah. Visitation will take place Friday, September 19, 6-7 p.m. at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 South Bluff Street. Interment will be in the Tonaquint Cemetery, St. George, Utah. Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 South Bluff Street, St. George, Utah, (435) 673-2454. Friends and family are invited to offer their condolences at www.spilsburymortuary.com. Click on the dove. Derived from the Deseret News obituaries section. 080917rparks |