Hal T. Jenkins, Jr., 91, long-time Canton, PA resident, died peacefully on July 2, 2025, at Sayre Memory Care Residence.

Hal was born on March 13, 1934, in Huntington, West Virginia, the oldest son of Naomi and Hal T. Jenkins, Sr.  Until his high school years, Hal lived with his family in various places in West Virginia and Virginia. In his sophomore year, they moved to Canton. Hal attended Canton High School, where he played football, basketball and baseball, and graduated in 1952.  While in school, he met Shirley Harvey, a Troy girl who became the love of his life. They were married on May 17, 1953, and they raised four sons and enjoyed 57 years of marriage living together in Canton until Shirley died on August 25, 2010. Their marriage was filled with absolute love and commitment for each other, which was a beautiful blessing and inspiring example for their family and friends.

Hal had a strong work ethic. His early jobs included ten years as a printer with the local weekly newspaper and a few years as a lineman with the telephone company. He then began a 30-year career as a Penelec lineman. He was blessed to work with some fine people at Penelec, many of whom became his lifelong friends as well.  He took great pride in his work as a lineman, and he took every opportunity during and after his career to regale family and friends with lineman stories—and many other stories as well.

Hal was a man of many talents and interests, and he went all-in on almost everything he did. In his early adult years, he was involved in many community and other activities.  He coached and umpired Little League baseball, helped build local baseball fields, refereed high school basketball, loved singing and playing the guitar and ukelele, and performed musical and comedy routines in local Lion's Club variety shows.  He was skilled at almost any type of home remodeling and repair work, and his house is living proof of his lifelong pursuits in that regard.

As a young man he began his lifelong passion—fly fishing. Over years of dedication and experience, he became a highly skilled fly fisherman and fly-tier.  Next to Shirley, fly fishing was his greatest love. And he always treasured times with his fishing buddies.

In his 50s he took up wood carving, which he came to love almost as much as fishing. He started out with simple carvings of Santas and angels. Through the years he created countless numbers of them. He loved giving them to people, sharing his creativity with others in a way that was meaningful to him and to them as well.   With his usual dedication and enthusiasm, he also became skilled at the finer art of carving and painting fish and birds. He created hundreds of them, motivated mostly by the enjoyment and satisfaction of the craft. He gave away many and sold some as well. Hal Jenkins carvings are owned and enjoyed by numerous family members, friends, and others, spread all around the area and elsewhere. He even did a fish carving for President Jimmy Carter.  For a number of years, he and Shirley attended the Ward World Wildfowl Carving Festival and Competition in Ocean City, MD, where Hal often entered his carvings, many of which won awards.

Hal and Shirley loved to travel—for sightseeing, fishing trips, visiting family and friends; and especially after Hal's retirement in 1994 they traveled all over the United States and at some point had traveled in all but four of the states.

Hal was a man of integrity and compassion, and he had a great sense of humor.  He was a loving, fun and energetic son, brother, father and grandfather, respected and adored by his entire family. His children and grandchildren carry many treasured memories of his wonderful qualities and their good times with him.

Most of all, Hal was a wonderful, loving husband to Shirley.  Shirley was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in her 40s.  Although MS limited her physically as the years went on, she never let it prevent her from living life to the fullest, and Hal assisted and supported her the entire way with amazing devotion, none more so than as a 24/7 caregiver in her final years.

Hal is survived by four sons, Pat Jenkins (and wife Jan) of Mooresville, NC, Erin Jenkins (and wife Cristy Stup) of Frederick, MD, Mike Jenkins (and girlfriend Kelly Herthel) of Corydon, IN, and Jason Jenkins of Phoenix, AZ; seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, sister Judy Wilcox of Canton, close friend Annie Bryan of Canton, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to Shirley, Hal was predeceased by his parents, his brother Woody Jenkins, his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Elizabeth ("Lib") and John Harvey, and special friend Vayda Bryan.

The family is grateful to the many people who, in Hal's later years, assisted him in little and big ways as needed (even if he didn't think assistance was needed!). You are too numerous to name here, but you know who you are.  In this way, things came full circle—his life of helping others and giving out angel carvings came back to him via the kindness of these many angels who looked out for him toward the end. The family is also grateful to the wonderful staff at Sayre Memory Care Residence who cared for him in his last three months, and to Anya Miller and Guthrie Hospice for helping to make Hal's last days peaceful.

In remaining with Hal's wishes services will be private and held at the convenience of the family. Pepper Funeral Home and Cremation Facility, 578 Springbrook Drive in Canton is assisting the family with arrangements. Memories of Hal and condolences to the family may be shared by visiting www.pepperfuneralhomes.com