Louise L. Jenkins, 79, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, passed away suddenly on June 22, 2025. A beloved mother, partner, sister, and friend, Louise lived a life marked by intelligence, compassion, and quiet strength.
Born in Columbia, South Carolina, to Emily Rivers and Arthur Boland Lindler, Jr., Louise spent her childhood in Columbia and cherished summers on her family’s farm near Albany, Georgia. She graduated from Clemson University with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and later earned a master’s in business administration from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Louise applied her education with dedication and precision, working as a computer scientist and manager. Her career took her from Melbourne, Florida, to Wilkesboro, North Carolina, and eventually back to Gainesville, Florida, where she met her life partner, Bob Essex. In 1988 she settled in Ponte Vedra Beach and remained there for the rest of her life.
A devoted daughter, Louise spent many years caring for her aging parents in Palm Bay, Florida, until her mother’s passing in 2018. She found joy in traveling, going to the beach, visiting national parks, doting on her cocker spaniels, and spending time with her family. Her faith was a cornerstone of her life, and she was a dedicated member of Christ Episcopal Church in Ponte Vedra Beach, where she loved attending Sunday services.
Louise is survived by her life partner, Bob Essex of Ponte Vedra Beach; her son, Keith Jenkins and his spouse Sarah Kotecki of San Diego, California; her sister, Trudy Lindler of Gainesville, Florida; and her beloved cocker spaniel, Kira. She was predeceased by her brother, Arthur “Buddy” Lindler, in 2014.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry (BEAM) at www.jaxbeam.org or Episcopal Relief & Development at episcopalrelief.org.
We are grateful to have had Mom—Louise—in our lives. She was loving, caring, and patient, and her memory will forever be a blessing.
