Allen "Bubba" Wayne Jenkins Sr.

Allen Wayne Jenkins entered this life December 8, 1937 and departed on April 14, 2013. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn. He leaves to cherish his memory his son Allen Jenkins, Jr., daughter Vicki Dennis and husband Fred, son Mike Jenkins, and daughter Evelyn Wiggins and husband Dave. He was also known as “Papaw” to Fred Dennis, his wife Amie, their two children, Caroline Grace and Christopher Carllen, and two step-children Wesley Hudson and Seth Mellor; Jason Dennis and his wife Kristine; Carl Dennis, his fiancé Taryn Boytim, and Carl’s son Brayden Wayne; Michael Dennis, his wife Rebecca, and their three daughters Evelyn Michelle, Kyleigh Jane, and Holly Renee; Derek Jenkins and his sister Lindsey; Steven Scott, his wife Laura, and their two daughters Cheyenne and Kingsley; David Wiggins, Jr., his fiancé Kaitlin Grossie, and their son David Carter Wiggins, III; Taylor “Tater bug” Wiggins; and Jade Larson and her two children Skylar and Aliyah. He also left a multitude of nieces and nephews who simply referred to him as “Uncle Bubba.”

Honored as pallbearers are his seven grandsons: Frederick Carllen Dennis, Jason Scott Dennis, Carl Allen Dennis, Michael Lee Dennis, Derek Michael Jenkins, Steven King Scott, and David Carter Wiggins, Jr.

The sixth child born to Nellie and Ross Jenkins, Allen grew up in a loving family in Hooks, Texas and graduated from Hooks High School. Throughout his life, he remained close to his three brothers, John, Earl, and Bo, and his two sisters, Janelle and Mary. Their spouses were considered family and Myrt, Joy, Bonnie, and Roy remained dear to him throughout their lives. Many treasured children came from these marriages.

He entered the Air Force in 1956 and served his country for twenty-two years. One of his proudest accomplishments in the Air Force was his participation in Operation Linebacker which secured the release of American POWs from Vietnam. He was awarded many accommodations, served two overseas tours during the Vietnam War, and made many lifelong friends. He recently reconnected with an Air Force friend, JD Turner, which meant a great deal to him.

After the Air Force, he attended VoTech to study carpentry. This skill set was handed down to him from his father but perfected as he began to build cabinets, furniture, and plaques. In the late 1990s, he read an article about the tragic death of a little girl. Touched by the story, he built a memorial plaque dedicated to the child and found a way to get the plaque delivered to her family. He seemed to discover a calling as he built and gave away many plaques to the parents and families of loved ones who were gone too soon. He was featured on a KTBS3 report done by Rick Rowe. He referred to himself as an “old softie,” an accurate representation.

In his many organized notebooks of ideas, he had included this saying, “Perhaps they are not stars in the sky but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy.” We truly believe that he shines from the heavens.