Ann Jenkins

January 25, 1928 – October 21, 2018

Ann Keaton Jenkins, nee Sarah Ann Keaton, was born at home in Roanoke, Virginia. She was the oldest of 4 siblings and had an older half-brother. Her father was a mail carrier and walked many miles a day. The family home was on his route, so he would come home for lunch. Her mother, who was widowed when she married Ann’s father, was a stay-at-home mom.

Ann always described her childhood as extremely happy. She remembered minute details; the friends, the games they played, the dresses they wore. She was also fond of quoting her mother in every parenting situation.

She began playing piano by ear before she could read music. She played in ensembles with her grandparents, her older brother and his wife.

She played clarinet in high school and was in the marching band. She started dating her future husband, Jon Jenkins. He was a very smart student, who wrote music arrangements during Geometry class. But it was the end of World War II, so once he turned 18 he was given his diploma and marching orders for Germany after a few weeks of basic training.

When she was 15, Ann went to work during the summer for her grandfather, an Optometrist. After graduation she didn’t attend college in order to wait for Johnny to return, and they married on June 1, 1947. It was supposed to be a small wedding, but since her family was very active in the church, and her future father-in-law was a minister, when they got to the church it was totally packed. They moved to Baltimore because her husband thought it was a bigger and better town to start a career.

They lived with relatives for a bit, then got an apartment. Her first child (Alan) was born while they lived there. When their second child (Kathy) was 18 months old they moved to the house they lived in until 2008. It was there that their third child (Wanda) was born, and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary there, as well as many other family milestones.

Every summer Ann would pack up the three children and spend 3-4 weeks with her parents in Roanoke. It was a wonderful gift to let the families spend enough time together to form strong bonds. The time there was spent doing everyday things as well as a few special activities, and it was a wonderful time for her and the children.

Ann was a very social person. She joined Loch Raven United Methodist Church in 1952 and served in many capacities. During her 50+ years there, she taught Sunday school, was Director of Christian Education, was active in the hand bell choir, taught and coordinated Vacation Bible School, attended Sunday School, and served as “Teen Scene” chaperone. Ann was also active in the schools her children attended, as well as in the community.

She sang in a female quartet named the Blue Belles during the time her husband sang in a quartet named the Blue Barons. They both were involved in local musical theater, and both were given roles in several musicals at the Lyric Theater.

Ann pursued her education whenever possible at Essex Community College. She challenged herself with classes such as Russian, American Sign Language and English, and thoroughly enjoyed classes like bike riding, paddle ball and drama. She also worked as a Substitute Teacher in Baltimore City, which was a somewhat daunting job at times. She often diffused tense situations with her sense of humor and quick wit.

Ann worked for the U.S. Census Bureau and showed her Christian love of everyone when she braved her assigned route in Baltimore City. Her friendliness and faith in the goodness of human nature let her complete interviews from even the most reluctant residents. Her supervisor assigned her the census forms that people had refused to submit because of her attitude and ability. She even managed to talk someone down who had pulled a gun on her! She stayed on after the interviewing was finished because she had an eye for detail. Later she did marketing research for a small firm, which involved traveling to retail stores to check on their product displays. She had to stop when she could no longer drive.

In 2008 Ann and Jon moved into a senior apartment on Randolph Rd. to be near their children, who had all attended University of Maryland and settled in the area. Ann joined Colesville then and started playing with the Colesville Ringers.

Ann had Macular Degeneration, so she drew on her memory to sing hymns – she knew all the words to the most popular ones, so she didn’t have to rely on the hymnal. She continued to amaze her family as she navigated this disease, and most people didn’t know she could not see well.

Ann was an excellent wife and mother, loving and devoted friend, and was a wonderful example of Christian love in action. She will be greatly missed.