Hugh Jenkins

Hugh Francis Jenkins, age 93, of Medford Leas, New Jersey, passed away January 17, 2018. Born in York, England, November 28, 1924.  Hugh was the oldest child, survived by his younger sister Pat. Son of a career British army soldier, Hugh grew up in India overlooking Mount Everest and the Himalayas. At age 14, he enlisted into the British army. After WWII and attaining the rank of captain, he decided the military life was not for him. Against his family’s wishes, he decided to immigrate to Canada and continue his education at the University of Toronto. After acquiring a degree in electrical engineering, he worked for the Atomic Energy Commission and Ontario Hydroelectric. 

        While in Canada, he met and married Eunice and had two sons, Philip and Christopher. After a divorce, Hugh immigrated (legally) to the United States, to the Philadelphia area in the early 60’s. He met and married Ruth Wilson from Mt. Airy, Maryland and became part of the larger Wilson/Mullinix family. He landed a job at Campbell’s Soup Company as general manager of the Camden soup plant and they both bought a house together in a new community called Willingboro. 

Hugh was active in British Officer’s Club, Delran Junior Marksman, Instrument Society of America, and Philadelphia Seahorses Diving Club; scuba diving all over the Jersey shore and Caribbean. In 1968, his son Phil immigrated (legally) to the United States to live with Hugh and Ruth. In a career that lasted 25 years with Campbell’s Soup, Hugh moved up to management in the corporate offices in Camden. 

        One day driving by an empty lot in Delran, a For-Sale sign caught his eye. On that lot, he built his own house on Bridgeboro road. This was the house that Hugh and Ruth retired to. In 2001, Ruth passed away and Hugh realized that it was too much for him to care for the house by himself. Deciding it was time to go to a retirement home, Hugh began looking for a suitable place before his son could even start. He found Medford Leas; a continuing care community, and decided it was for him. He moved to the Lumberton Leas annex, where at this community, his grandchildren Cameron and Allie learned to swim in the pool. 

       When it came time to move to the main Medford Leas facility, the transition was a very smooth one and he enjoyed living there. Many thanks to all the staff at Medford Leas for Hugh’s wonderful care and friendship they provided. Hugh is survived by his sister, Pat, two sons, Philip (Athena) and Christopher (Kathy), four grandchildren, Cameron, Allie, Kevin, and Dominic, nieces and nephews, Alan (Sue) Mullinix, Tommy Mullinix, Deb (Jim) Wilk, and many other Mullinix family members in Maryland. 

        He was known for having a British Accent when speaking even after 60 years. When asked if he wanted a viewing in New Jersey, Hugh’s reply was, “Why? All of my friends are dead.” So in keeping with Dad’s wishes, there will be no service in New Jersey and his interment will be in Pine Grove Cemetery in Mt. Airy, Maryland, next to his late wife Ruth.

     Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.molesworthwilliams.com

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