Theron Wade Jenkins, III (“Terry” and innumerable nicknames), age 75, died at home on Friday April 26, 2019 after a 3-year relentless battle with bladder cancer. He was a loving, devoted husband to his high-school sweetheart Gayle Hellyer Jenkins, for 58 years; a supportive and adoring Dad to Lorraine Sharaf and Melissa Bollmann-Jenkins; father in-law and compadre to Jonathan Sharaf and Andreas Bollmann; highly engaged grandfather to Mia Bollmann, Sven Bollmann and Eve Sharaf; loving brother to Judy Schroeder; fun-loving brother in-law to Judith Vail and Deborah Stout; faithful friend to a vast network of friends and extended family; and devoted son to his late parents, Mimi and Ted Jenkins.
Terry will be remembered for his infectious humor and wit, unfaltering stoicism, intelligence, unpretentious demeanor, and extreme loyalty. In addition to taking exceptional care of his family and friendships, he owned and operated two businesses, Quaker Pump Company (as a “Pump Tycoon”) in Lansdale and The Paper Chase in Peddlers Village. He was a true Renaissance man who was interested in the world and all that it had to offer. He appreciated books, music and movies of all kinds and threw himself into countless hobbies throughout his life, some of which were playing guitar, photography, ice hockey at midnight, long-distance running (running countless races including the Philadelphia Marathon), bicycling through Bucks County, competitive sunfish sailing on Lake Galena, piloting both glider and Cessna airplanes, playing tennis and, later in years, golf with “the Golf Buddies,” and cooking for the countless and memorable parties and get-togethers with Gayle.
He integrated his family and friends into his innumerable hobbies, with Gayle “co-piloting” him in the planes to fun places, and his daughters sailing, biking, hiking, and cross-country skiing with him; developing photos in his basement dark room, and playing ping pong, bocce, frisbee-golf, volleyball, fierce group card solitaire, backgammon, puzzles, games and eclectic music on his turntable were all part of his home and his family and friends’ lives.
A lifelong Philly-boy, Terry loved and supported all things Bucks County, Philadelphia (especially it’s sports teams and food), Fort Washington (his beloved hometown) and Pennsylvania, grateful for over 50 years of extraordinary gatherings at The Dunwoody Club in western PA. Terry and his family were also immensely thankful for a very long-run of deeply meaningful, memorable, and extremely fun family vacations at the Hellyer home on the coast of Maine.
Everyone has a story (or hundred) about their time spent with Terry and how he expanded their point of view, introduced them to experiences, and made them laugh! To say that Terry’s presence will be missed is an immense understatement and the hole left behind seems unfillable, but we also know that what he has given to us will continue to grow and support us forever. Terry LOVED US, and Loved, Loved, LOVED LIFE!
In lieu of gifts or flowers, please consider donating to the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network on his behalf (https://www.bcan.org/donate/).