Vernon Perkins
Vernon Perkins
Vern Perkins of Boise, Idaho passed peacefully in his sleep on March 7, 2011. He was 88 years young. He was born September 24, 1922 to Milton and Opal Perkins in Baker, Oregon.
Vern graduated from Eugene High School in 1940. He participated in sports at Santa Clara and Eugene High. He played in the Eugene Junior Symphony Orchestra as first chair violinist.
Following in the footsteps of his father who served as a Navy Quartermaster in WWI, Vern served his country honorably during World War II as a U.S. Navy pilot in the South Pacific. He was 19 when Pearl Harbor was attacked, and graduated from Naval Flight Training in 1943. Vern graduated from the University of Oregon in 1947, after his active duty service in the Navy.
He met his beautiful wife Erma in 1940 and they were married in Hollywood, Florida, on October 2, 1943. He spent 63 wonderful years in marriage with Erma, who was his closest friend and a like-minded patriot. His family marveled at the way they stayed in step through thick and thin, and set such a great example of how to make a partnership thrive. Since her passing in 2007, Vern continued to live a life that Erm would have been proud of, never taking for granted the good days and never complaining about the tough ones. He volunteered his time at the Idaho State Veteran’s Cemetery and has twice received the Spirit of Freedom Award from Idaho’s United States Senator Mike Crapo for his service. He valued his country and was an ardent observer of government and politics, and could be counted on to engage in lively debate on the subject at any time!
Raising a family of four boys,Vern found time to make a little go a long way. He instilled in his family the importance of integrity, hard work, education, being accountable for one’s actions,and a reverence for God. Some fondest memories were from church activities, camping, fishing, clam digging, and youth sports in Oregon. His extensive career with GMAC covered more than thirty-one years, and culminated in his retirement in 1981 as the GMAC Boise Branch Manager. He worked hard, always did what he promised, and never expected something for nothing. He and Erm were active participants the Elks Lodge, square dancing, round dancing, fishing,gardening, bridge, and BSU sports. They were Bronco football and basketball season ticket holders for 30 years and loved watching televised baseball, golf and football in their retirement years.Vern’s quiet way and keen sense of humor will be sorely missed...and his family hopes to follow the compass that he provided for a life well lived.
Vern was preceded in death by his loving wife Erma Lovina and his parents, Milt and Opal Perkins. He is survived by his children, Jim (Linda) of Meridian, Idaho, Russ (Fran) of Bay Center, Washington, Tom (Lani), and Hardin (Janet) both of Boise, Idaho, ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren, his sister Connie Mattson (Bob), a niece and a nephew.
A celebration of Vern’s life will be conducted at Alden-Waggoner at 10:00AM, Friday, March 11, 2011, with a private inurnment ceremony at the Idaho State Veteran’s cemetery at 3:00PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Idaho Veteran’s Services, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
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