Resident of Saratoga Bonnolyn Kay Jenkins quietly passed away in the evening on Thursday, August 29, 2024 with her loving husband, John, at her side, after a multi-year struggle with Lymphoma.
Bonnie was born in Hartford City, Indiana to Harley Burdette and Frances Elizabeth Burchard, the second of two daughters. She grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana and attended Miner Elementary School before graduating from Central High School in 1958. She went on to attend Ball State Teachers College (now Ball State University) in Muncie, earning a BS degree with a major in Education in 1962. Bonnie was recruited out of college by the Anahiem School District in California which resulted in an exciting move west, and the beginning of her teaching career. In 1967 a fellow teacher introduced Bonnie to John Lee Jenkins, a friend from northern California, for a blind date. There followed a two-year, long distance romance, which resulted in their June 28, 1969 wedding in Santa Maria, California. The couple made their home first in Sunnyvale, California for two years before moving to their present residence in nearby Saratoga.
Bonnie continued her teaching career in the Cupertino Elementary School District until retirement in 2001. Her dedication to teaching was inspiring to those who worked with her, and she was a wonderful mentor and friend. She will be remembered not only for her engaging and imaginative lessons but also for the warmth, kindness and care she brought to every student. She served on the PTA/School Side Council and as Math Lead Teacher for the primary grades, and in 2001 was recognized by the Garden Gate School staff as School Site Teacher of the Year.
Bonnie and John loved totravel, and made anumber of international trips to Western Europe, New Zealand, Canada, and the Caribbean. They also traveled extensively in many US states including Hawaii and Alaska.
Live theater, fine dining and the ballet were also favorites of Bonnie, such as traveling to New York City for plays and fine dining, attending the Laguna Arts Festival Pageant, wine tasting in Paso Robles, and houseboating on Shasta Lake.
Bonnie also loved animals and birds, large and small.
She selected the West Highland white terrier breed for her own pet; she had five Westies over the years, and every one was special. Bonnie was a lifelong member of the Fort Wayne Chapter 432 of the Order of Eastern Star.
After retirement Bonnie volunteered with The Assistance League and at the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop in Los Gatos.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents and asister, Batasha Ann Wood (Betsy). She is survived by husband John Lee Jenkins of Saratoga, devoted K9 Westie "Lily Rose" and close friends Linda Yamasaki, Charlotte and Ruth Gehle, Phyllis Shideler, Marty Higgins, Michelle Mifsud, and Sue and George Chism of Shell Beach, Judy Justice of Mission Viejo, Patty and Walt Strasser of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Polly Withey of South Bend, Indiana, Hazel Moreau of Montpellier, France and Doug and Jean Moulin of Auckland, New Zealand. Bonnie thanks Dr.
George Labban and the staff at the Stanford South Bay Cancer Center for many years of dedicated and loving care.
Bonnie's legacy will live on through the countless lives she touched. She leaves behind a lasting impression of joy, learning and love, and we will carry her memory in our hearts forever. Friends are invited to a visitation on Friday, October 25, 2024 from 5-8 p.m. and afuneral service on Saturday, October 26 at 9:30 a.m. at Darling Fischer Funeral Home, 615 North Santa Cruz Avenue in Los Gatos, with Interment to follow at Los Gatos Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Lymphoma Research Foundation, Wall Street Plaza, 88 Pine Street, Suite 2400, New York, NY 10005 (Tel. 212-349-2910; Email: lymphoma@lymphoma.org) or the Westie Rescue and Placement NorCal, David Snook, Treasurer, 3532 Pinnacle Ct., San Jose, CA 95132 (westierescuenorccal@gmail.com).