He grew up in Idaho. He served 4 years in the Navy where he learned the electrical trade. After the Navy, he went to visit his brother in McGill, Nevada. That is where he met and married Deon Cobb.
He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as a Cub and Boy Scout leader. He served in many leadership positions, also. He served 24 years as a temple worker in the Las Vegas Nevada Temple. Hugh and Deon served a mission for their church in the Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission for eighteen months.
He worked for 29 years at the Nevada Test Site as a journeyman electrician.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, and three children: Miriam (Robert) Ison, Cheryl (Denny) Staheli, and Michael “Mickey” (LaNae) Jenkins. Four siblings: Melvin Ray “Pete” (Helen) Jenkins, Roma Dale “Buck” Jenkins, Dova Gibbons and Rosalie French. He had 19 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded by parents, 3 brothers and 1 sister: Gerald, LeRoy, Bill Jenkins and Betty Lou Mulville. He was also preceded by one grandson, Kyle Lee Staheli.