David Jenkins
July 31, 1944 - February 01, 2025
Obituary For David Jenkins
David Jenkins, 80, of Lenoir, NC passed away on February 1, 2025 in Cary, NC.
Born July 31, 1944, to Willard and Verna Jenkins, David grew up in a godly home, the son of a Baptist preacher. David became a Christian at the age of 14 under his own father’s preaching. After graduating from Princeton High School in Mercer County, WV, he joined the Navy as a radioman aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), participating in airborne missions on the A-3 Skywarrior. After the Navy, David attended Concord College and earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
David married the love of his life, Donna Robinson of Princeton, WV, in June of 1969. He supported his growing young family, working for Burlington Industries in accounting for eight years before he sensed God’s call to the mission field. He first served with JAARS in Waxhaw, NC as part of the radio department, and in 1980 he and his family moved to the Philippines to serve as missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators/SIL. Among other duties, David coordinated radio communication with Bible translators in the field, repairing equipment and conducting daily check-ins with the translators. Later, he served with Action International Ministries in administrative roles as part of their ministry to the poor of Metro Manila. David and his family returned to the US after 20 years in the Philippines to care for his aging parents.
David was a faithful, patient, generous, and loving husband and father. He had a passion for learning, whether it was history or the latest computer networking technology. Ever mindful of others’ needs, he even earned a master’s degree in Biblical Counseling to further support and guide those around him. Known affectionately as “Gabby” in the Navy for his penchant to chat, David also nurtured a lifelong hobby as a ham radio operator (callsign K4COG), regularly participating in hamfests and disaster preparedness exercises.
David is survived by his wife, Donna; his brother, Alan; his children, Deanna Nichols, Kimberly Craig, and Michael Jenkins; and nine grandchildren. God’s grace and faithfulness were evident his whole life, sustaining him to the very end. He will be missed dearly, but we know that for those like David whose faith is in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior “...to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21 ESV).
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10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Funeral Service
11:00 AM
Burial
01:00 PM
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