Gilbert Caldwell Jenkins

ARDEN - The Rev. Gilbert Caldwell Jenkins, 79, left Saturday, June 10, 2006, in the afternoon, to be in the Paradise he spent his life telling others about. When he arrived there, he was greeted by his parents, Lonnie Russell Jenkins and Eunice Frady Jenkins; his sisters, Kathleen "Kate" Jenkins Tony and Ruth "Dolly" Jenkins Stone; his first wife, Mildred Silver Jenkins; son, Christopher Jenkins; father-in-law, the Rev. Gordon Scruggs; and mother-in-law, Mary Lee Scruggs. The Rev. Jenkins was a loving husband to his wife of 36 years, Carolyn Scruggs Jenkins. He was a devoted father to Jennifer Jenkins Roberts; father-in-law to David Wesley Roberts; grandfather to Isabella Kathleen Roberts; son-in-law to Hazel Scruggs; brother-in-law to Lowell Scruggs; and brother to Alonzo Jenkins of Old Fort and to Lester Jenkins of Burnsville. He was pastor of Emanuel Baptist Church in Mills River, North Black Mountain Baptist Church in Barnardsville and Oak Grove Baptist Church in Fletcher. A World War II veteran, Gilbert served in battles and campaigns in Algeria, French Morocco, Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France and Rhineland. Friends and relatives will celebrate his life on Tuesday June 13, 2006, at Oak Grove Baptist Church on Cane Creek Road in Fletcher. The family will receive friends at 1 p.m., followed by the service at 2 p.m., led by the Revs. H.D. Houck, Claude Conard and James Johnson. Burial will at at Ashelawn Gardens of Memory in Weaverville. Memorials may be made to Back to the Bible, P.O. Box 82808, Lincoln, NE 68501; the DAV, 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, KY 41076; or the charity of one's choice.