Dr. Edward William Jenkins, M.D.

Jenkins, Edward William, M.D., was born March 7, 1926 in Springfield, Massachusetts and died September 17, 2016 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was 90 years old when he left this earth to meet his savior Jesus Christ in heaven. He passed peacefully at his home after a long full life. Mary Jane Jenkins, his wife of 62 years and the love of his life, whom he met when they were fourteen years old, preceded him in death. She passed away November 7, 2014. Also preceding him were his parents Edward Sampson and Ruth Helen (MacLeod) Jenkins and his sisters Joan Zwick and Betty Maley. He is survived by his brother The Honorable David Allen (Sue) Jenkins-- Burlington, Vermont, and by his children Christopher Durfee Jenkins M.D., Rebecca Ann Jenkins, Nancy Lee (Asa) Jenkins-Heidarian D.P.M. -- Dallas, Texas, Margaret Elizabeth Jenkins, and Patricia Gail (William) Lawson, M.A., RD/LD. He is also survived by his grandchildren Alexander MacLeod Jenneman-Jenkins, William Heydar Heidarian, Edward Jenkins Heidarian, Edward MacLeod Lawson, and Caroline Elizabeth Lawson and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Ed was a long time member of the Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church and was active as an elder at various times. He taught children's Sunday school classes in his unique and colorful way and was the chairman of the mission committee. His faith in Christ was the foundation of his life. He started a home Bible fellowship group for medical professionals at the church, which he was devoted to for decades. It was a valued part of his life. Ed was a faithful family man, a devoted spouse, a loyal friend and had a great sense of humor. His children will always remember him as a loving father, full of energy, always optimistic with an unending sense of adventure and ready to give advice at a moments notice! Ed attended Burlington High School in Vermont where he was the school's drum major. He was editor and chief of his own school newsletter. He was elected Mayor for a day as a Boy Scout in Burlington, Vermont. Later he was an Boy Scout Explorer Post club leader as an adult. He loved gardening. Starting before residency training, he had gardens and passed on his passion to his kids. Ed always had pets. In addition to cats and dogs he bought a horse shortly after moving to Tulsa. He had a small cattle ranch for a time. Bird watching and listing those he saw was a favorite pastime. He took pleasure in photographing his travels in the US and elsewhere. He was an enthusiastic lover of nature. He was awarded the Naval V-12 scholarship for officer training. He graduated from the University of Vermont with a BS and stayed on at the University of Vermont Medical School earning an MD. He did his general surgery residency at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire where his first three children were born. He did one year of training in cancer surgery at Massachusetts State Cancer Hospital, Tuft Medical School, Westfield, MA. This was followed by residency in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI, where his fourth child was born. After practicing surgery in Springfield, MA for one year he moved his family to Tulsa, Oklahoma at the invitation of Dr. Joe Burge to join him in his practice where they were the only two cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons in the area at the time. His fifth and last child was born in Tulsa. Dr. Burge and Ed had a very busy practice in Tulsa and took cases in Arkansas and Missouri. As pilots they flew themselves in their company Beechcraft Bonanza to hospitals, which lacked cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons. At various times during his career he was President of the American Cancer Society Tulsa Chapter, President of the Oklahoma Thoracic Society, President of the Oklahoma Heart Association Tulsa Chapter, President of the Oklahoma Surgical Association, and President of the American College of Surgeons Oklahoma chapter. Additionally he was Vice-President of the Tulsa County Medical Society, Regent of the State of Oklahoma International College of Surgeons, Vice-President of the International College of Surgeons United States Section, a delegate of the International College of Surgeons House of Delegates, and a member of the Board of Trustees Tulsa County Medical Society. He was also an Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Oklahoma Tulsa Branch and Clinical Professor of Thoracic Surgery at Oral Roberts Medical School for a time. In 1987 he won the American Medical Association's Physician's Award. He published articles in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Archives of Surgery and the Journal of Clinical Research. Hospital and other appointments included: Attending Thoracic Surgeon at St. Francis Hospital, Hillcrest Medical Center, Doctors Hospital and Courtesy Staff at St. John Medical Center. Ed was on the Board of Directors of Doctors Hospital 1984-1985, Chief of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery for nine years at Hillcrest Medical Center, Past Chairman of the Cancer Committee at St. Francis Hospital, and Chief of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Department at St. Francis Hospital for two years. He held other positions and was a member of many professional societies as well. He hosted the television program "Call the Doctor." He was on the Mayor's Council on Indigent Care. He was a lifelong member of Rotary Club of Tulsa. On international trips he would try to attend rotary clubs if one was present. Two of his interesting patient cases made national news including one in Time Magazine. Ed was an avid traveler and visited 98 countries with his wife, family and friends including mission trips with his church, golfing outings, high adventures in wilderness areas and 26 trips throughout the world with Road Scholar (formerly Elderhostel Educational Travel Tours). Highlights include tracing Shackleton's journey to the Antarctic, following the apostle Paul's mission trips around the Mediterranean, Tulsa Ski Club trip to Switzerland, floating the Allagash River in Maine, and mission trips to Nepal, Kazakhstan, Honduras, Tanzania and Russia, and canoeing the Canadian Boundary Waters with family and Explorer scouts and many other journeys. Dr. Jenkins loved people and had a heart for service. After retiring from surgical practice he offered his time for many free clinics throughout Oklahoma, international church mission trips in Central and Latin America, Russia, Africa, and Central Asia, and tutoring and mentoring school children in Tulsa. He participated with his church providing relief for victims of Hurricane Andrew in Florida. He was an inspirational lifelong learner. In retirement he took piano lessons, he was a voracious reader keeping lists of books read each year starting in the 1940's to the present; he had great appreciation for the performing arts including ballet, theater, opera, and symphony. He prepared for international trips by immersing himself in the history, culture and languages of the countries he visited. When he moved to a retirement village he started a monthly speaker series which he led for ten years for retired medical professionals until six months before his death. He was an athlete. He was on the college ski and football teams at the University of Vermont. He participated in the Tulsa Run numerous years. He loved to golf with family and friends. When he was older and mobility was limited he joined the Wii bowling team at his retirement center, which won the championship one year! Ed embraced life with a contagious enthusiasm for everything he did. He lived life to the end, preparing his breakfast, texting his children and had his freshly written to-do list by his bed on his last day. He was loved by his family and friends and will be greatly missed. The Celebration of his life will be Friday, September 30, 2016, 11:00 a.m. at the Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church, 4102 E. 61st St., Tulsa, OK, 74136. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to any of the following Tulsa based organizations: In His Image International; Literacy and Evangelism International; Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church (Missions); Holland Hall School. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233. Share memories at www.southlawnfuneral.com

Dr. Edward William Jenkins, M.D.

March 7, 1926 - September 17, 2016