Dona W. Jenks

On January 22, 2022, our wonderful mother, Dona Wood Jenks, was reunited with our Father in heaven.

She was born in Shelly, Idaho to Phyllis Hansen Wood and David Wood on November 14, 1931. Both her parents passed by the time she was seven years old and she was raised by various family members in Bear Lake and Boise, Idaho. She married Charles Jenks in Logan, Utah in September, 1950. After living in Idaho, Utah, Montana and Colorado, in 1963 they settled in Goleta, California. Dona considered Goleta a paradise.

She began working in 1966 and ended by retiring from Santa Barbara Research Center in 1993. She greatly enjoyed herself in retirement with many friends, church functions, square dancing, knitting, crocheting, sewing, reading, and traveling to family reunions.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her siblings, Faye Tolman (Ray), Idaho; James Wood (Laverna), Idaho; and Maxine Escobar (Dick), California.

She is survived by her four children: Kathleen Palm (Derek) of Napa, California; Randall C. Jenks of Goleta, California; Allen T. Jenks of Goleta, California; and Richard W. Jenks of Moab, Utah. Also surviving her are granddaughters Shani Loizu (Ryan) of Del Mar, California and Cori Southall of Roseburg, Oregon; great grandchildren Ava Loizu, Cole Loizu, Dayna Southall, Rylee Vermillion, and Xander Vermillion; a great-great grandchild on the way; and sister-in-law, Shirley Wood, of Pocatella, Idaho. The family wishes to thank Dyan Dilley, her friend, for her kind support.

Unfortunately, Dona’s passing coincided with the hospital’s lockdown of visitors which did not allow family and friends to visit in her final weeks.

Despite her difficult childhood, Dona exuded a loving, cheerful and kind demeanor. She gave her children the freedom to be themselves, accepting them for who they are. She had a large extended family and was a favorite aunt to her many nieces and nephews. She was quick to laugh and smile, and she made each of us feel cherished. We will greatly miss her.