Memorial Scholarships & Grants

Phil Jenkins was born to Fred & Irene Jenkins in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1921. He attended public school in Kansas City and attended the University of Kansas majoring in Horticulture and Entomology, before enlisting in the Navy at the beginning of World War II. He flew the SB-D Dauntless dive bomber in the Pacific and the Aleutians.

Mr. Jenkins met his wife, Zona, in Bremerton, WA. In 1947 they moved to the Yakima Valley. Mr. Jenkins managed 1000 acres of apples, cherries, peaches and pears owned by Richey – Gilbert Company. During this time, Mr. Jenkins discovered the first spur-type golden delicious apple as a mutant sport on a red delicious tree. He was a self-taught expert in all aspects of fruit production. Following a stint in Bridgeport working as a large orchard production manager, he returned to the Yakima Valley in 1962 to work for the Wilbur Ellis Company as a horticulturist and fieldman; where he was employed until his death in a car accident.

Mr. Jenkins was a trusted advisor for many Yakima Valley fruit growers, giving feely of his knowledge and experience. He was an authority and valued resource on choosing the right land for fruit production, varieties, new orchard planting, grafting, pruning, chemical thinning, pest control, weed control, growth regulators and initial propagation of new varieties. Mr. Jenkins taught numerous classes at Yakima Valley Community College, wrote several publications and provided guest lectures at Washington State University.

He was an active member of many societies and associations, serving at various times as president of the Yakima Pomological Society, the Yakima Horticultural Association and the Yakima Fieldmen’s Association. He was a member, frequent speaker and chairman of various committees of the Washington State Horticultural Association. He was also an active member and board member of the Yakima Area Arboretum.

Mr. Jenkins valued his many industry friends – his friends were his clients and his clients were his friends. He was a great husband, father and grandfather.

His interest and hobbies were vast. He enjoyed outdoor sportsman activities, travel, volleyball, wine making, collecting Northwest Indian artifacts and socializing. At age 15 he earned the rank of Eagle Scout and later served as a scoutmaster for several troops in Kansas and Washington.

Mr. Jenkins was survived by his wife, Zona, of Yakima; daughter, Susan Wertenberger, of Yakima; son, John Jenkins, of Fresno, California; five grandchildren and five great- grandchildren.