Hobart (Hobe) Jenkins
Hobart (Hobe) Jenkins passed away on March 15 at age 92 in Bellevue, WA.
Born in St. John, WA on February 17, 1924, graduated from Rogers High School in Spokane in 1941. Joined the Army Air Corps and flew B-24’s in WW II with the 15th Air Force 464th Bombardment Group, earning numerous medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross. His patriotism and love of country was expressed through his continued military service in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves. He retired at the rank of Lt. Colonel.
He married Marilyn Samuel in 1942. After WWII, he earned his BS and MS at Washington State University and began a lengthy career in education; including high schools in Dayton, Sunnyside, Langley, and Mead, Washington. Received his PhD from WSU and began a career in higher education administration. Held positions at University of Washington, University of Idaho, Centralia Community College, and was President of Spokane Community College. His leadership, contributions, and vision for SCC were honored with the naming of The Jenkins Wellness Center.
He managed the family homestead wheat ranch in St. John throughout his adult life. He loved fishing, hunting, flying, baseball, and the WSU Cougars.
Upon retirement, he and Marilyn moved to Bayview, Idaho where they built their dream house on Lake Pend Oreille. He loved the community and became its advocate writing and receiving grants for the building of their community center, the Kokanee Recovery Project with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the Wildflower Recovery Project, and for modernization of the local water, septic, and fire systems. He served as Bayview Chamber of Commerce President, Water Board President and long time advisor on diverse projects for community improvement. He was on the board of Kootenai Electric for many years. He passed his sense of civic responsibility on to his family whom he loved deeply.
He is survived by his three daughters, Susan Seiber (James), Kathleen Currie (Michael), Patricia Jenkins, three grandchildren Sandy Long (Chris), TJ Seiber (Sara), Chris Currie and six great-grandchildren.
Hobe asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his name to the Bayview Community Center PO Box 121 Bayview, Idaho 83803 or the Hobart Jenkins Memorial Scholarship Fund, Community Colleges of Spokane Foundation PO Box 6000 Spokane, WA 99217-6000.
Internment services at the Tahoma National Cemetery on April 8th at 1:30pm. Memorial service will be held at the Bayview Community Center on Saturday, July 9th at 12:00 noon.