Ted Wayne Jenkins

Ted Jenkins, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather passed away from Alzheimer’s Disease on Tuesday, May 11 at Sunflower Gardens in Santa Ana, California. He was surrounded by his wife, Sherrie and their three children, Jennifer, Steven and Jeffrey and their Son-in-Law, Terry.

Ted was born in the doctor’s office in downtown Wewoka, Oklahoma on July 12, 1939 to I.C. and Shirley Jenkins. Life was not easy for the Jenkins family who spent their early married years living in town with I.C.’s mother until 1941 when Shirley packed up Ted and his older sister, Kay, and followed her friend, Juanita, to California; leaving I.C. behind. We are not sure where or how long they lived in California before I.C. brought his family back to Oklahoma, but Ted started 1st Grade there.

Ted worked from the time he was 7 years old. He started out selling papers on the corner in downtown Santa Ana where his mother, Shirley, would bring him his lunch. Later, he had his own paper route for years, even working the night shift after his other job at the restaurant.

Ted’s father worked as a bus driver and the family lived in a small house next door to the bus station where Ted cleaned the buses after school. Ted always worked and bought everything he needed, but still he had to ask his father’s permission to spend his own money. Ted’s father hung out at the local pool hall after work where he earned additional income as a “Pool Shark”. Ted often related stories of how he had to wait for hours, watching his dad play pool, just to talk to his Dad or before being given the “OK” to spend his own money.

Ted and Sherrie met on August 6, 1955 on a blind date at Crescent Bay. Ted had just turned 16 and Sherrie was still 14. It was Love at First Sight. After that night, Ted drove every day from Santa Ana to Fullerton, where Sherrie lived, to see her. Ten days later he asked her to go steady; giving her his Ruby birthstone ring to wear on a chain around her neck. When Ted got his Class Ring he gave it to Sherrie and took his birthstone ring back. She wore that ring until Ted proposed at Hillcrest Park, in Fullerton, at Look Out Point, on January 19, 1957. He used the insurance money he received when Sherrie totaled his beloved ‘49 Merc to purchase her engagement ring. They were married 10 days after Sherrie graduated High School at the First Methodist Church in Fullerton on June 21, 1958.

In 1957, shortly after proposing to Sherrie, Ted learned that he was being awarded a Scholarship for Physics, which he turned down because he was getting married and he also joined the Coast Guard Reserve during a lunch hour in high school to avoid the draft.

Ted and Sherrie had three children; Jennifer, Steven and Jeffrey. Ted refused to let Sherrie work during the early years of their marriage and child rearing so that she could be home with their kids. Consequently, Ted worked multiple jobs and spent the majority of their early marriage traveling for work. Ted worked in the Food Service business for about 45 years, starting out as a Fry Cook and ending up as a Supervisor and retired from Kraft Foods in 2002 at the age of 62.

Ted and Sherrie owned 2 homes, but only lived in their first home for 1 year. They purchased their home in Fountain Valley in 1964 and Sherrie still lives there today.

Ted and Sherrie took the family on driving vacations every year; visiting National Parks and family in Idaho and Washington. Later, Ted and Sherrie traveled all over the world; exploring various countries including: Russia, Europe, the Carribean, South Pacific, Mexico, Tahiti, Alaska and Hawaii 12 times. They took their adult children to Oklahoma so Ted could show them where he grew up. They also took their children and their spouses on 3 trips; two to Mexico and one to Hawaii where everyone celebrated Ted’s 75th Birthday.

Education was very important to Ted and he always wanted a College Degree. He obtained an AA from Orange Coast College where he took night classes. Afterwards, he transferred to Cal State Fullerton, but sadly, stopped attending just short of earning his BA when tuition rose since they had two kids in college and couldn’t afford the extra cost. During his college career he took various classes with both Jennifer and Steven.

Ted and Sherrie have 7 Grandchildren; Ryan, Lauren, Josh, Stephanie, Amy, Jeff Jr., Jonathan and 2 Step-Granddaughters, Delia and Alyssa. Ted and Sherrie went to all their Grandchildren’s games and sporting events, rarely missing anything. They also attended all Middle School, High School and College Graduations. The grandkids have fond memories of their Grandparents being in attendance.

Ted and Sherrie became very involved with the Relay for Life after their daughter, Jennifer, had breast cancer surgery. They joined her Relay team and spent 12 years as “Used Book Vendors”. Ted also suffered from Prostate cancer and he walked many laps as a Survivor.

Ted and Sherrie have 12 Great Grandchildren; Jackson, Rebecca, Blake, Isaac, Liliana, Marshall, Weston, Oliver, Scarlett, Quinn, Zachary and Tristen. Ted met and knew all his Great Grandchildren except for the 2 youngest; Zachary and Blake, whom he only saw pictures.

Ted loved sports; especially OU Football; in fact, he could usually be seen wearing at least one of his countless OU shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, socks and/or hats. He even attended a few games with his sons; Steve took him to two games including the Red River Rivalry, he took both Steve and Jeff to a game in Oklahoma against Kansas and Jeff took him to a game in Washington - Huskys vs OU. Ted loved to play football; teams would be he and Steve against Larry and Jeff (oldest against youngest) and the youngest usually won. He went to the gym religiously. He lifted weights at home and had a punching bag hanging in the garage for years. On weekends there were always sports on TV. In his younger days Ted often went to the local schools and played handball with his brother Larry and his sons. In later years he played racquetball with his sons. Ted also loved to play tennis and golf. He and Sherrie golfed for years, sometimes with their sons and Ted also golfed with friends from work.

Family was always very important to Ted. He would do anything for any of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but his wife, Sherrie, was always the closest to his heart. Ted came from humble beginnings and together, with Sherrie by his side, defied the odds and created a strong and lasting bond and memories that we all will cherish.

We love and miss him dearly.