Albert Ralph Jenkins

MARION- Albert Ralph Jenkins, 77, passed away at 6:45 PM, Thursday, June 17, 2004 at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, June 23, 2004 at the Blue Funeral Home in Marion with Reverend Roy Baker officiating. Visitation will be from 12:00 to 2:00 PM, Wednesday, June 23, 2004 at the funeral home. Mr. Jenkins was born on March 30, 1927 in Wales, United Kingdom to Albert Ralph and Doris Mae (Walters) Jenkins. Survivors include his wife, Lois Jenkins; daughters, Jacki Hardy, Vicki Rainaro and Jennifer Johnson; step-sons, Bruce, Richard, Jr., David and Edward Hoffmann; fourteen grandchildren; and one great grandchild. Mr. Jenkins studied for a short period to be a priest in the Church of England and left that when the war broke out. He served in the British Navy. He was educated in England. He studied electrical engineering at Alton Technical College, and also attended Battersea School of Refrigeration. He began his career as a sales engineer and project manager for a major research laboratory. In 1955 he moved to the United States and eventually became a U.S. Citizen. He was an instructor in basic refrigeration at Coyne Technical College in Chicago and worked at Application Engineering Corporation in Wooddale, Illinois. His love for the Lord led him to the ministry in 1984, where, with his wife, Lois, founded the New Hope Church in Skokie, Illinois. He served as assistant Chaplain at Cook County Hospital for 2 years and ministered at the Cook County Jail for several years. He worked with the Prison Fellowship at Dixon, Dwight, Lincoln, Logan, Shawnee and Vienna Correctional Centers. He moved his ministry to Goreville, where he started the New Hope Ranch. He was a member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, American Association of Christian Counselors from 1994-2003, National Chaplains Association from 1995-1999, and Marion Memorial Hospital Chaplains Corporation where he served as President for 1 year.