George L. Jenkins Jr., a Social Security administrator who sang with area choruses, died of a heart attack Wednesday at his home in the Oakenshawe section of North Baltimore. He was 68.
Born and raised in Roanoke, Va., he first worked for the Southern Railway, where he became a personal assistant to its president. The job gave him the opportunity to travel throughout the country and inspired a lifelong affection for trains.
He moved in the early 1970s to Centreville, Va., and joined the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare.
In 1976, he received a personal letter of appreciation from President Gerald Ford for his humanitarian efforts as part of an interagency task force that helped resettle more than 130,000 Southeast Asian refugees.
He moved to Severna Park about 20 years ago and became manager of data processing at the Social Security Administration's Woodlawn headquarters, where he worked until his death.
Mr. Jenkins was bass section leader of the Baltimore Symphony Chorus and sang with the National Choral Arts Society and Concert Artists of Baltimore.
In addition, he sang with church choirs -- at St. Martin's-in-the-Field in Severna Park, Faith Presbyterian Church in Baltimore and most recently Episcopal Cathedral of the Incarnation, University Parkway and St. Paul Street, where he was a communicant and where his memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. May 21.
He played the French horn and often spoke of performing with an all-state band for President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Staunton, Va.
Mr. Jenkins regularly enjoyed attending cultural events including the Baltimore Opera Co., Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and local theater companies. He was a gardener and gourmet cook.
Survivors include a son, George L. Jenkins III of Ashburn, Va.; a daughter, Mary Katherine Litzan of Fredericksburg, Va.; and two sisters, Carole Leigh Jenkins and Peggy Anne Owen, both of Roanoke. His marriage to Mary Lee Jenkins ended in divorce.
