August 2, 1923 – March 9, 2025
Thelma Jenkins Dorka Uriarte, 101 Passed away peacefully at home on March 9, 2025.
Born Thelma Jenkins to J. E. (Pop Jenks) and Marjorie Wilkes Jenkins on August 2, 1923 at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. She graduated from Park City High School in 1941, having received awards for her proficiency on the snare drum in the high school band. Thelma married Frank Louis Dorka in December of 1942 and followed him through his military career during World War II. She contributed to the war effort in her own way by working on the B-25 bomber. In October of 1956, Frank and Thelma adopted a son who they named Frank Carey Dorka. During their marriage they ran both the Pop Jenks Confectionary, in uptown Park City and the Pop Jenks Lunch located north of town (now Kearns Boulevard). They were also part of a group that purchased the Egyptian Theater and ran it as a movie theater with live melodrama productions on the weekends. The couple later divorced.
In 1970, Thelma married Leon Uriarte a former high school sweetheart and future Park City Mayor.
She worked her way up to Proof Department Manager at The Continental Bank in Salt Lake and later worked for First Security Bank, Park City branch. The Uriartes were very happy in retirement, first by traveling in their motorhome and later between their homes in Mesa, Arizona and Salt Lake City. They enjoyed entertaining, playing cards, and dancing. Leon Uriarte died in 2013.
Always creative, Thelma won many Utah State Fair ribbons for her knitting, rug making, and ceramic figurines. Besides the drum, she was talented on the piano and organ as well. Thelma caught the acting bug from the Park City theater, and performed in four yearly melodramas at The Resort in Mesa, Arizona.
In the last years of her life, each year her birthday was celebrated by a fun bus to Wendover, Nevada, where her friends and family enjoyed a day of festivities. Her 100th birthday party at Park City’s Red Banjo attracted over 200 well-wishers.
Thelma is survived by her son, Frank (Mareen) Dorka, stepdaughter, Sherrie (Jim Cooper) Prince, stepson Michael Uriarte, stepson, Howard, (Penny) Uriarte, adoring grandchildren, many great grandchildren, her lifelong friend, MaryLou Toly, and a multitude of Friends.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to the caring staff at Sagewood at Daybreak.
Services will be held Saturday March 15, 2025 11-12 pm at Jenkins-Soffe 4760 South State Street, Murray
Followed by Graveside service at Mount Olivet Cemetery 1342 E. 500 So., SLC
Followed by a luncheon 230-430 pm at Red Banjo Pizza 322 Main Street, Park City.