Jenkins, Ethel E.

Ethel E. Jenkins, 95, formerly of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, in Oskaloosa following a short illness. Services: 10:30 a.m. Monday at Edgewood Family Fellowship, by the Rev. Craig Bex. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. A visitation will be held Sunday from 2 until 5:30 p.m. at Teahen Funeral Home and Monday after 9:30 a.m. at the church.

Ethel is survived by three sons, Calvin Jr. (Nancy) of Cedar Rapids, Alan (Kelly) of Vancouver, Wash., and James “Chris” (Parivash) of Mission Viejo, Calif.; two daughters, Carol (William) Ludwick of Oskaloosa and Janice “Jenny” (Kenneth) Printen of Chicago; 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Her husband, Calvin (1996), and sister, Mae Goodell, preceded her in death.

Ethel was born June 25, 1914, in Jonesborough, Tenn., the daughter of David R. and Lillian Mary Hayes. She attended Roosevelt High School for three years and then the University of Iowa. She married Calvin Washington on May 25, 1937, in Cedar Rapids. She worked as a hostess at the Roosevelt Hotel, then at Montgomery Ward in the service department, retiring in 1960. Ethel then joined her husband Cal in partnership of Cal Jenkins Carpet Cleaning.

Ethel loved to read, listen to music, and do needlepoint.  She was a member of Edgewood Family Fellowship, where she volunteered as a librarian for many years and she and Cal were involved with AWANA and other children's ministries. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Edgewood Family Fellowship Library Fund or the Cedar Valley Humane Society.

Online condolences may be left for the family at