Franklin Walton Jenkins

Franklin (Frank) Walton Jenkins, loving husband, sweet dad, proud grandfather, and friend to all, died on October 3, 2024, in Salt Lake City, UT. Frank was born on December 31, 1933, in Robertson, Wyoming. He was the youngest child born to Thomas Ralph Jenkins and Annie Mercedes (Walton) Jenkins. Frank was raised in southwestern Wyoming and later moved to Provo, Utah, to attend high school at BY High. He would return home to Wyoming during the summers to work on the Green’s ranch.

Frank married Beth Lourene Nelson, with whom he had five children, on February 20,1953. (They were later divorced). He joined the U.S. Marines Corps in August 1953 during the Korean War. As a sea-going Marine aboard the U.S.S. Yorktown aircraft carrier, “The Fighting Lady,” he served as an Admiral’s orderly, guarding the ship’s Admiral. He was later promoted to Corporal. He served two years of active duty and six years of inactive duty. 

Frank graduated from BYU with a degree in business management. In 1960, he started working at Hercules Incorporated and retired after 32 years.

Frank married Carole Ericson Barton on June 3, 1966. They were sealed in the Jordan River Temple on December 9, 1989. Carole had been widowed with three children, which he raised as his own. They had two children together for a total of ten children across both marriages. After his first date with Carole, she told her sister that she could like him if he “just had a sense of humor.” She discovered very quickly that was his greatest gift! 

Frank’s lifelong hobbies were golfing, hunting, fishing, and shooting pool. It saddened him in his later years that his body would not allow him to continue doing these hobbies. One of Dad’s greatest loves was his ranch in Wyoming that he shared with his brother, Lynn. He spent many hours with his children and grandchildren on this beautiful land, hunting, fishing, taking his children and grandchildren for rides in the Scout, chopping and hauling wood, working on the cabin, and mending fences. We cherish the memories we share at the ranch. 

Frank served a six-year service mission at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City, UT. He participated in Helping Hands for 15 years, delivering food to those in need. He also worked at Welfare Square and was involved in many Church-related service projects. Dad had a great love for people. He was continually helping others in his Taylorsville neighborhood by shoveling walks, running errands, helping with yardwork, or doing whatever was needed. 

Frank was known to his family and friends as a big tease, a master of joke telling, and a smiling, friendly, hardworking man. He loved his family immensely.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents, one sister (Lulu), five brothers (Ralph “Bud,” William, Vernal, Lynn, and Clifford “Kip”), one grandson (Greysen), and many good friends. He is survived by his loving wife, Carole, and his children Christine (Paul) Worthen, Linda (Gary) Buck, Steven (Scott) Barton, Keith (Janet) Barton, Teri Jenkins, Nancy (Rob) Dial, Julie (Patrick) Jenkins, Kip Jenkins, Laura (Wayne) Welling, and Marty (Jen) Jenkins; 26 grandchildren; 54½ great grandchildren; two great, great grandchildren and many other family members and friends.

The family would like to thank the nurses, CNAs, and staff at Alta View Hospital (4th floor) for their compassionate and attentive care of their father and support of his family.

If you would like to join us in celebrating Frank’s life, funeral services will be held on Friday, October 11th, at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS meeting house located at 1495 West Tamarack Road (4630 South). Viewing will be at the same location on Thursday, October 10th, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. preceding the service on Friday. Interment will be at Taylorsville Cemetery, 4567 South Redwood Road, immediately following the service. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider taking your family to dinner or spend time with them in the beautiful outdoors. Frank’s memory will be a blessing to all the lives he touched. 

We’ll miss you, Dad. Happy Trails!

Please join us via zoom if you cannot attend in person. 

https://zoom.us/j/98885622393