Charles Joseph Perilloux

A resident of Baton Rougefor 55 years and a veteran of World War II, he died at his home Wednesday morning, Dec. 13, 2006, at age 92. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home,825 Government St., was on Friday, Dec. 15, from 7:30 p.m.to 9 p.m.Visiting will continue at St. George Catholic Church on Siegen Laneon Saturday, Dec. 16, from 11 a.m.until funeral Mass at noon. He was born June 20, 1914, in Reserve, the eldest of eight children born to Zephirin Louis Perilloux and Vivian Marie Cambre. He was descended from Jacques Perilloux, a soldier from Soual, aprovinceofTarn, France, who arrived in New Orleansin 1746, and of other settlers along theGermanCoastof theMississippi RivernearLaPlace. He graduated fromLeonGodchauxHigh Schoolin Reserve at age 15 and began his college studies as the youngest student ever to enter Southwest Louisiana Institute (now theUniversityofLouisianaat Lafayette.) When the Great Depression interrupted his studies, he was employed as a traveling salesman for Happy Day Headache Powder. He worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps in the building of the Bonnet Carre Spillway between theMississippi RiverandLake Pontchartrain, and as a sergeant with the CCC, building Gerard Park in Lafayette. He later worked as a construction superintendent in the building of the Cities Service oil refinery in Lake Charles, and in other industrial construction. He married Mary Lee Sonnier, the daughter of Carmen Marie Chiasson and Albert Clement Sonnier, on May 23, 1937, at St. Genevieve's Catholic Church in Lafayette. Her parents were descendents of the original Acadian settlers in Louisiana. One of her ancestors to first arrive in Louisianawas Jean Baptiste Chiasson, who fought against the British in the American Revolution, serving under Gen. Lafayette at the battle ofYorktown. They had one child, Charles Jr., and two more children who died as infants. At the age of 48, she enrolled in LSU as a beginning college freshman, and completed her B.A. degree in 1970. She retired as a librarian with the Louisiana State Library. Their marriage lasted for 51 years until her death on May 8, 1988. During World War II, he was exempt from military service because he was active in airbase construction in Texas, but applied to be reclassified so he could volunteer for the Naval Construction Battalion (the "Seabees") where he served for 2"° years in the Pacific, in Hawaiiand in the Philippines. He quickly attained the rank of chief petty officer, and his crews built aircraft runways, port facilities, barracks, mess halls and even a ladies' beauty parlor for the nurses and other women in the Navy and Army. After World War II, he returned to private construction as a building contractor, then continued his college education on the GI Bill. In 1951, he enrolled in graduate school at LSU, and in 1953, received his master's degree in education. His doctoral studies were interrupted when he received a call to serve the state Department of Education as the director of college plants, managing the construction of all buildings at the state colleges of Louisiana. He served as the Louisianastate commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars from 1957 to 1958, for which service he was selected as the outstanding state commander in the nation. His team of volunteers built a new home (in only two weeks -- like good Seabees) for the VFW post in Cameron following Hurricane Audrey. He continued to be active in the VFW on behalf of those who had served their country overseas. In 1963, he ran unsuccessfully for the office of state superintendent of education. In 1964 he began teaching industrial arts and drafting atZacharyHigh Schoolfor several years. He was later reassigned to Baton Rouge High where he began an architectural and engineering drafting program in the magnet school curriculum. He was known as a fine teacher and a firm but kind disciplinarian. In 1984, he retired from full-time teaching at the age of 70. He continued to be active as an observer and participant at School Board meetings and often had constructive comments and suggestions. He continued teaching on a part-time basis as an instructor in LSU's Continuing Education program, teaching mainly American history, with an emphasis on the American West and the history of Louisiana. He was a prolific writer of letters to the editor of The Advocate, and his political insights were known for their common sense, firm principles and gentle expression. Mr. Perilloux was a fond father and grandfather, and along with his wife, took his grandchildren individually on camping trips, with particular emphasis on the Native American culture and history, and on the sites significant in the exploration and development of the western United States. He was also interested in the history of the French, German and Acadian settlers of Louisiana, and joined his wife, son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren on a camping trip to Nova Scotia. For several years he was an officer of the German-Acadian Genealogical Society in the River Parishes. He had a large circle of friends, some of whom he saw every Saturday night for the last 18 years while Cajun dancing at Boutin's restaurant. The family wants to express appreciation to his friends, especially to Mrs. Jerry McArthur and Mrs. Jane Bush, and to Lynn Boutin and his staff for the deep respect and affection they have accorded Mr. Charlie at his home away from home. A man cannot have had a better group of friends than these. Mr. Perilloux was mentally sharp throughout his life, if somewhat physically weak toward the end. The family also wishes to express appreciation to Dr. Patrick Gahan for the enhanced quality of life enabled by his perceptive medical treatment for the last five years. He left a son, Charles Jr. and daughter-in-law, Kathy Mills Perilloux of Baton Rouge; and grandchildren, Dr. Brannon Perilloux of Zachary, a pediatrician practicing in Baton Rouge, Aimee Perilloux Fagan, an attorney in Dallas, Suzanne Perilloux Leckert, a business development consultant in New Orleans, and Marc Perilloux, the "Bull of the Woods" and a construction project manager in Houston. He also left great-grandchildren, Paul, Andre, Stewart and William Perilloux, all of Zachary, and Katherine Mills Fagan of Dallas. He was so proud of all of his grandchildren, and took joy in their success in school and their entry into adult life as productive citizens. He is also survived by brothers, Reed and Sheldon Perilloux; sisters, Shirley Vessier, Annabelle Fourroux and Coleen Landry, all of Louisiana; and sisters-in-law, Bonnie Sonnier of Brenham, Texas, and Mary Ann Broos of Palmetto, Fla.; and a host of nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces and cousins in Louisiana and throughout the country. He contributed to and supported both public and private education at all levels. He helped make his city and his state better. He was a loyal friend, a faithful servant of God, a wonderful teacher and family man. Above all, however, he was an American patriot who loved his country. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the scholarship fund ofCatholicHigh Schoolin Baton Rougeor to the Veterans of Foreign Wars in his memory.