FRANKLIN FURNACE — Ralph M. Jenkins, 74, of Franklin Furnace, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009, at Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth. The Sciotoville native was born Sept. 1, 1934, and had lived in the Franklin Furnace area all his life. He was the son of the late Russell Jenkins and Clara Waugh Jenkins Hilgenberg. He is survived by his wife, Lettie Ann Igo Jenkins, whom he married May 28, 1954.
Ralph was a former employee of Wilson’s Sporting Goods for 35 years until the company closed and retired from Reeses RV in Venice, Fla. He attended the Church of God in Franklin Furnace.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, David and Debbie Jenkins of Franklin Furnace; a daughter, Judy Jenkins and Mark Potter of Ironton; a daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Kent Greene of Chipley, Fla.; a daughter and son-in-law, Anita J. and John Via of Pedro; a son and daughter-in-law, Jeremy K. and Sherrie Jenkins of Riply, Ga.; seven grandchildren, Michael S. Jenkins, Samantha Jenkins, Anthony Stapleton, Jessy Stapleton all of Franklin Furnace, Kristopher Armstrong of Bushnell, Fla., Jessica Armstrong of Lynn Haven, Fla. and Lucas Greene of Chipley, Fla.; 11 great grandchildren, Devan Armstrong, Alyssa Armstrong, Cody Armstrong, and Dean Armstrong of Bushnell, Fla., Ava Shaye Jenkins of Wheelersburg, Anthony Stapleton, Brieanna Stapleton, and Savanna Stapleton, all of Franklin Furnace, Tyler Stapleton of West Portsmouth, Leilan Greene and Finneus Greene; two sisters and brothers-in-law: Juanita and Harold Stewart of Portsmouth and Faye and Jim Whittaker of Xenia; and a brother and sister-in-law, Russell and Judy Jenkins of Hecla.
Funeral will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Phillips Funeral Home, with the Rev. Ronnie Adams officiating. Burial will follow in Haverhill Cemetery. Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.