Wallace Thomas “Tom” Jenkins, 70 of Lakewood Ranch, FL passed away on Saturday, November 7th at home surrounded by his family after a lengthy health battle. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Tom was born in Ozark, Arkansas and at the age of five, he, his mom, and his siblings moved to Estes Park, Colorado. After high school, Tom worked at Woodward in Fort Collins, Colorado. While working there he obtained his bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University in Business Management. Later, after moving to Florida in 1989, he worked towards and obtained his MBA also from CSU. The bulk of Tom’s career of 30+ years was spent at Sun Hydraulics in Sarasota, FL where he was the procurement manager. In 1997, he met the love of his life, Judi, and they were wed that same year on December 6th. They went on to have two children, Rachel and Austin.
Tom enjoyed spending time with his family which consisted of attending various sporting events and going on family vacations. He was actively involved in both of his children’s sports teams as a coach or avid spectator. Tom was a man of faith as he regularly attended church and read the Bible. He also enjoyed reading, watching movies (his favorite movie was American Graffiti), and listening to oldies rock, Tom Petty being one of his favorites. Most recently, in 2023, he and Judi took a fourteen-week trip to Alaska in their newly acquired RV. Everyone thought they were crazy to make Alaska their first trip, but they did it anyway. In 2024, they added a Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppy named Boomer to their family and enjoyed going on a couple more RV trips with him. In past years, he loved racing sports cars in Chicago with friends and hunting with his brother Roger and best friend Curt.
Tom is survived by his wife, Judi Harris Jenkins, his son, Austin Jenkins, his daughter, Rachel Jenkins and her husband, Cole Daniel, his Corgi, Boomer, his brother, Roger Jenkins, and his sisters, Georgia Jenkins and Joann Rogers and her husband Bob Rogers. Tom is preceded in death by both of his parents, Mary Elizabeth Bateman and George Washington Jenkins, and his Miniature Poodle, Rusti.
The family will be scattering his ashes at Tom's favorite place in Colorado. This is a place that held deep and profound meaning in Tom’s life. We ask all who knew and loved Tom to share a special memory.
