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 EDIE JENKINS RECEIVES her retirement certificate from Territorial Commander Commissioner David Edwards as John Jenkins looks on. |
With more than 50 years of devoted service to The Salvation Army between them, John and Edie Jenkins have both entered retirement.
Edie Van Klaveren was born and raised in San Francisco, CA, and graduated from Shiloh Bible College in Oakland.
She began work at territorial headquarters in San Francisco in the early 1970s; a few years later she was part of the Army’s move to the Crestmont Campus in Rancho Palos Verdes where she has served in the territorial commander’s office since 1979.
“Edie has served with distinction in the territorial commander’s office,” said Commissioner David Edwards at her retirement ceremony, noting, “She has trained seven TCs and one General!” General Paul Rader served his first month as the Army’s international leader while still at Western Territorial THQ, with Edie as his private secretary.
Other highlights in her career include the privilege of serving as support staff at the International Conference of Leaders at Lake Arrowhead in 1988, where she met many international Army leaders and did secretarial work for a number of them, including General Eva Burrows.
Edie and John Jenkins married in 1992. John, who has been the electrician at THQ since 1980, was born and raised in Chelmsford, Essex, England. He came to the U.S. in 1965 and was first employed by Southern California Edison.
A well-known figure at Crestmont for the past 21 years, his work has taken him to every department and building on the campus, where his efficiency and warmth have made him many friends. John remained at Crestmont when THQ moved to Long Beach last year. Although he retired in February, he still works part time at the college.
In retirement, John and Edie will continue to pursue their various interests, including more travel.