Obituary of William F. Jenks

William F. Jenks, "Bill", aged 94, of Kinderhook, NY passed away on September 24th, 2020. Unexpected and blessedly rapid, he left this life as he lived it: as Frank Sinatra would say: "I did it my way". He was the devoted husband of Doris F. Jenks, loving father to Susan, William Jr. and Robert Jenks, and cherished grandfather of Carson Elder. Bill was born on May 7th, 1926 in Boston, MA (just loved those Red Sox). He served in the US Navy during WWII, after which he attended Princeton University, where he received his Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. He continued his education, receiving his MBA from Northeastern University. He married his beloved wife of 65 years in 1955, and eventually settled in North Haven, CT. He worked at Pratt and Whitney Machine Tools before establishing his own machine tool distribution company, Machining Systems Inc., of which he was CEO until he retired. Living in Wallingford, CT and Haines City, FL for many years, and then as snowbird between FL and NY, he was a loved part of several communities and an active past president of the Farms Country Club. Bill was an excellent and avid golfer, hockey coach, and amateur pilot, and an extraordinary "keeper of the grounds", with a soft spot for trees and hummingbirds. He will always be remembered for his stoic and loving devotion to his family, his corny sense of humor and love of a pun, and his affability. Bill's determined and enduring love of living, down to the smallest of details, is mirrored in the enduring love of his family and friends for him. A memorial mass will be held at St. John the Baptist Church in Valatie, NY on October 3rd at 2:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Arbor Day Foundation or a charity of your choice. Arrangements made by Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, Valatie.