William Thomas Perkins

William Perkins

William Thomas Perkins, born March 8, 1920, died peacefully on December 15, 2016 at his home at Carolina Gardens in York, South Carolina.
Mr. Perkins was married to Jean Mattingly Perkins for 61 years until her death in 2007. He was the son of Thomas Falls Perkins and Clara Bedford Floyd. Mr. Perkins grew up in Owensboro, Kentucky where he graduated from Owensboro Senior High in 1938. During War World II as a member of 9th Air Force, he completed 65 combat missions and received nine Air Medals and four Battle Stars. Mr. Perkins participated in the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6th, 1944 (D-Day).
After World War II, Mr. Perkins graduated from the University of Kentucky. He became employed by General Electric and worked in Owensboro, Tell City, Indiana, and Columbia, South Carolina until his retirement in 1982. Mr. Perkins and Jean were founding members of Immaculate Catholic Church in Owensboro where he served as a Eucharist and Hospitality Minister. He was Scout Master of Troop 15 and a member of the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree.
In addition to his wife, Jean and his parents, Mr. Perkins was preceded in death by his sister, Martine Jones, and his brother, Galen Perkins. Surviving are his children, William Clellan Perkins (Pam) of York, Patricia Ann Perkins Shealy (Ed) of Fairhope, Alabama, and Susan Perkins Wagner Wittman (Kent) of Charleston, South Carolina. He has four grandchildren, Blake Perkins, Taylor Wagner, Austin Wagner, and Erin Shealy along with one great grandchild, Gavin Perkins.
In the words of his grandchildren, Mr. Perkins was an avid book reader who loved Carl Sandburg and Abraham Lincoln, a bird watcher, and a golfer. He could make a simple hike through the woods seem like the grandest of adventures and a homegrown tomato seem like a meal fit for a king.
He will be honored at a private memorial Mass at Divine Savior Catholic Church in York.
The family would like to thank Riverview Hospice and Palliative Care in Rock Hill, South Carolina and the staff at Carolina Gardens.
Bratton Funeral Home in York is serving the Perkins family.