Clara Ida Jenkins

Clara I. Jenkins, born in February of 1917,  and married to William Jenkins in 1935, passed away at Sonoma Valley Hospital, Sonoma, Calif., on January 23rd, 2018, due to heart failure.

Clara was born in Detroit, Mich., and was predeceased by her husband, William, who passed in 2011.  She is survived by her son, Thomas Jenkins; her grandchildren, Gordon and Greg Jenkins and Janet Kelly; and seven great-grandchildren.

Clara, the daughter of Hungarian immigrants John and Anna Ware, attended Wilson Middle School and Southwestern High School in Detroit.  Clara graduated with honors from high school and was a member of the National Honor Society.  She also set the record at Southwestern for typing and shorthand speed along with accuracy.

Clara was primarily a homemaker, but during WW2 she worked in the defense industry, as did many other women, while her husband was overseas with the First Marine Division.  She was also employed by the auto industry in the Detroit area on and off for about 20 years.

Clara and Bill moved from the Detroit area to Sonoma in 1993, where they resided until death. She enjoyed dancing to the Big Band Era music in the 1930s and ’40s.  Clara and Bill liked to hike and were members of the National Audubon Society.  They also had a keen interest in many types of art.

At 100 years of age, she was an inspiration to all who knew her.  She made friends with many of the local cab drivers and servers at some of the local Sonoma restaurants.

She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.  A celebration of her life is planned at a future date as yet to be determined.

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