thomas walter perkins
PERKINS YADKINVILLE ~ Thomas Walter "Perk" Perkins Nov. 14, 2011 ~ May 14, 2011
Mr. Thomas Walter "Perk" Perkins, 93, died Saturday, May 14, 2011. He was born
November 15, 1917, to Lee and Hettie Snow Perkins of Copeland. Mr. Perkins was a
loving husband, father, PaPa, PaPa 2, and uncle. Mr. Perkins was retired from
CBS Corporation as an audio engineer. He worked at WBT in Charlotte before going
to CBS in New York in 1950 and CBS in Washington, DC in 1964. In his work he was
able to meet many famous people and fly on Air Force One with four different
presidents. He enjoyed sharing his experiences and keepsakes from his career. On
retiring, he and his wife, Jamie, returned to East Bend where he enjoyed his
woodwork shop, vegetable and flower gardening, and volunteer work. He was
instrumental in beginning the East Bend Public Library and enjoyed hosting
school children on field trips to his home. He was well known for his pumpkin
pies, chicken and dumplings, and sausage balls. Mr. Perkins was a charter member
of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Charlotte, which was formed in his home
in 1948. He attended Maplewood Baptist Church in Yadkinville. Surviving are his
son, Tommy (Linda) Perkins and daughter, Carolyn (Phillip) Graham. He was the
proud grandfather of Jamie (David) McCollum, Lee Perkins, David (Kristie)
Graham, and Jason (Angie) Graham; great-grandfather of Brittany and Kenton
McCollum, Parker and Dawson Graham, Casey and Wyatt Graham and step
great-grandson, Seth Miller. He is also survived by brothers, Carroll (Beulah)
Perkins, Jim (Betty) Perkins, Bob (Shirley) Perkins, several nieces and nephews,
and his special companion, his bird, "Happy". Mr. Perkins was preceded in death
by his parents, his wife, Jamie Smitherman Perkins; brother, Thurmond Perkins,
and sister, Vetra Covington. The family will receive friends from 9:30 to 11
a.m. Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at Gentry Family Funeral Service in Yadkinville. The
Funeral Service will follow at 11 a.m. at Gentry Family Chapel with Jimmy
Lancaster officiating. Burial will follow at Union Grove Baptist Cemetery. The
family would like to thank the staff at Magnolia's over Yadkin, Yadkin Valley
Community Palliative Care, and Mountain Valley Hospice for all the love and care
shown to Thomas and his family. Memorials can be made to East Bend Library Fund,
PO Box 69, East Bend, NC 27018. Online condolences can be made at
www.gentryfuneral service.com.
Gentry Family Funeral Service of Yadkinville is serving the Perkins family.