Lt. Col. William Franklin Jenkins, USAF/Ret., 79, passed away on Thursday, May 28, 2020 in Mansfield. Services: Services pending at DFW National Cemetery. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Wounded Warrior Project in his honor. William(Bill) was born on December 5, 1940 in Donalsonville, GA to Rev. James Wilburn Jenkins and Thelma Mae Nobles Jenkins. He attended Norman Bible college and served as a Baptist minister while completing his education at Valdosta State. After a year as a teacher he answered the call to serve in the United States Air Force until his retirement in 1986 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Bill served during the Vietnam War flying the O-2 and OV-10 performing Forward Air Control. He later served flying the T-37 as a instructor pilot, T-39 and then the KC-135 refueling tanker. He attended the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College and acted as a NATO Exchange Officer to Canada. After the Air Force he founded three different small businesses working with his children in two of them. Bill enjoyed and excelled as a builder and carpenter, a skill he learned from his father. He loved cars and would always perform his own repairs, large and small. He moved to Arlington, Texas 32 years ago where he maintained a home. After retiring from his last business venture he moved with his wife to Nakuru Kenya where he spent many years remodeling his home on the slopes of the Menengai crater. He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors: Wife, Herine Jenkins; sons, William Franklin Jenkins Jr., Anthony Lamar Jenkins and wife, Lana, and Jeffrey Jenkins; daughters, Stacey McQueary and husband, Ryan, and Stephanie Jenkins; brothers, Dr. Edgar Baughn and wife, Nell and Ralph Wilburn; sisters, Berta Jo Ulm and husband, Charles, and Sadie Jewel Jenkins; grandchildren, Colin Anthony Jenkins, Mason McQueary, Sheri Manzano and husband, Louis; great-grandchildren, Gavin Manzano and Astin Manzano; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Wade Family Funeral Home (817) 274-9233