James Alan Jenkins' Obituary
Retired Lt. Colonel James Alan Jenkins was born July 12, 1942, in Livingston, Montana and went home to be with the Lord Jesus January 15th, 2025. Lt. Colonel Jenkins was the son of Theodore Marcus Jenkins and Veda Irene Jenkins. Early in his life, Lt. Colonel Jenkins began to have an interest in helping people and gained an interest in his early years of college doing physical therapy. After graduating from Montana State University where he was mentored by one of the trainers there, he then pursued a master’s degree in physical therapy at Baylor Medical School. Jim met his wife Betty in high school where they became high school sweetheart. They were married in 1967 and remained married until 1998.
After graduating from Baylor Medical School, Lt. Colonel Jenkins was drafted in the Vietnam War, although he was never sent overseas during that conflict. Lt. Colonel Jenkins served in the Army from 1968 to 1990, advancing from Second Lieutenant to Lt. Colonel. Lt. Colonel Jenkins only served a few years in active duty with much of his time spent on reserved duty so he could focus on his physical therapy practice, while also serving his country. Lt. Colonel Jenkins, whether he lived near Portland, Oregon where he and his family lived and worked for a few years, or for the majority of his career in the Greater Seattle area believed in helping people.
He regularly was sent graduate students from schools in the Greater Seattle area to his practice at Puget Sound Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy in Bellevue, Washington to be mentored. Lt. Colonel Jenkins provided students with opportunities to succeed and achieve their professional credentials. If he felt a student under his care wasn’t doing well rather than failing their practicum, he would send them back to the school to learn. Whether in his private practice or in the military, Lt. Colonel Jenkins believed in helping people and coming alongside them.
Lt. Colonel Jenkins was not only a very accomplished physical therapist, but he was a Christian and a churchman. He loved talking to his son Dave about his ministry and long conversations about Scripture and theology. Lt. Colonel Jenkins went on many missions’ trips to Mexico, Guatemala, and Africa to help bring the gospel of the Lord Jesus to people and help them with their physical needs. Lt. Colonel Jenkins loved this.
Lt. Colonel Jenkins loved his family and loved spending time with his grandson, Jeremiah Jenkins. He also loved his other sons, Michael Jenkins and Dan Qantaqua. Lt. Colonel Jenkins is survived by his sons, Michael, Dan, and Dave, along with his grandson, Jeremiah, and granddaughter, Deanna, and his ex-wife Betty Jenkins.
Lt. Colonel Jenkins will be remembered for his love for the Lord, His Word, His people, and his country. In all things in his life, Lt. Colonel Jenkins aimed to serve his Lord and his country with excellence by living a life of accomplishment and service. His life was well-lived in the eyes of his son, Dave, and honored his Christian faith imperfectly (as we all do), but with distinction and honor to his Savior and Lord Jesus.
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