LaVerne Edward Jenkins, 84, of Kennewick died on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 following a long term battle with prostate cancer. Born on February 22, 1924 in Boulder, Colorado and was the son of Doris and Harry Jenkins of Louisville, Colorado. LaVerne attended elementary and secondary schools in Louisville and graduated in 1942. In May 1943, he was drafted into the Army Air Force. He attended several schools and earned his Gunnery Wings as the nose gunner in a B-29 bomber and was still in this school when the war ended. He was discharged in April of 1946. In the fall of 1946 he enrolled and attended the University of Colorado and graduated in 1950 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. In December 1947, he married Helen May Dirkes of Louisville. In 1950 they moved to Kennewick where LaVerne was employed by General Electric and Battelle Northwest until June 1986 when he retired. Before retirement, LaVerne was Technical Leader for Battelle Construction as well as Manager of Operations at the Marine Laboratory at Sequim, WA. After retiring LaVerne and Helen traveled extensively seeing most of the United States, Canada, the British Isles and Southeast Asia. The couple enjoyed 54 years of wonderful marriage before Helen was stricken with cancer and died August 20, 2001. After Helen's death, LaVerne returned to Kennewick to be near his children and resided at The Manor at Canyon Lakes. Survivors include Raymond Jenkins and wife Glenda of Lind, WA, Shirley Betournay and husband Ron of Euguene, OR, Connie Brittain and husband Ken of Harrisburg, NC and Terri Jenkins of Richland, WA. LaVerne has nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life and graveside service will be held at a later date. Inurnment will be at Mountain View Memorial Park in Boulder, Colorado. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society for prostate cancer research and/or any organization researching cures for macular degeneration.