Last updated 8 November 1999.
WOOD RIVER -- Cleo Melvin Jenkins, 87, died at 5:10 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, 1999, at Sunbridge University Care Center in Edwardsville.
Born Oct. 6, 1912, in Litchfield, he was a son of the late Oliver Oscar and Mertie Mae (Adcock) Jenkins.
A U.S. Navy World War II veteran, he was a pipe fitter/welder with Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 553 in East Alton for 42 years, retiring in 1978.
He married the former Marjorie Stotler on Nov. 3, 1942, in Old Monroe, Mo. She died Aug. 15, 1994.
Surviving are three sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Darlene Jenkins of Brighton, Howard and Cyndi Jenkins of Cottage Hills and Robert and Julie Jenkins of Alton; four daughters and a son-in-law, Dolores Jenkins of Cape Girardeau, Mo., Sharon Jenkins of Alton, Marjorie Kay and Dan Cathorall of Pittsfield and Landa Jenkins of Wood River; 18 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Virginia Scharfenburg of Carlinville.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Floyd Carl, Coy and Chester Jenkins; two sisters, Verda Jenkins and Velda Fitzgerald; a grand-daughter; and a great-grand-daughter.
Visitation was Thursday at Marks Mortuary in Wood River, where services were conducted at 1:30 p.m. Friday. The Rev. James Bruce officiated.
Burial was at Valhalla Memorial Park in Godfrey.
Memorials may be made to Bill Wilson Metro Ministries or Hope Church, where he was a member.