Robert L. Perkins

Robert L. Perkins, M.D., age 78, of Upper Arlington, Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine at The Ohio State University, died Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at his home with his family by his side. He grew up in Clarksburg, West Virginia, son of the late Robert M. and Lola Ruth (Freeman) Perkins. Dr. Perkins was Director of the Division of Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine at The Ohio State University, 1971-1986. He retired from The Ohio State University in 1990 and became Director of Medical Education at Grant Medical Center until 1997. He was preceded in death by his high school sweetheart and wife of 26 years, Ruth, in 1978. Dr. Perkins is survived by his loving wife of 26 years, Penelope; daughter and son-in-law, Cathy and Daniel H. McQuiston, of Carmel, IN; son, Robert L. Perkins, Jr., of Upper Arlington; granddaughters, Elizabeth Perkins, Megan McQuiston and Jennifer McQuiston; half sister, Margeret Jo ( Roy) Harbin, of Texas.. He was a 1953 graduate of West Virginia University; a 1956 graduate of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He did his post-M.D training at The Ohio State University College of Medicine where he joined the faculty in 1961. Dr. Perkins was a Captain in the U.S. Air Force serving as Chief of Medicine of the 3505th U.S. Air Force Hospital in Greenville, Mississippi. Among his many professional achievements, he was a Fellow of the National Institutes of Health as a clinical research specialist. He enjoyed teaching young physicians the art of medicine and was himself a fine and caring physician and superb diagnostician. He authored more than one hundred medical professional journal articles and did extensive research on the development of some of today’s best known antibiotics. With the onset of the Aids epidemic in the early 1980’s, Dr. Perkins was selected as the Chair of the Aids Education and Research Committee for the entire University. He felt this was one of his most important and meaningful committee appointments. Dr. Perkins’ passion for medicine was matched by his love of free flight model aviation. He built and flew both rubber and gas power models and won numerous competitions. As an author, editor, competitor and creative force he did much to advance and perpetuate the sport of free flight and held many life long friendships there. A man of many interests and talents, he always strove for perfection in all that he did. He was anchored by his great love of family and pride in his children and grandchildren. He held a particular soft spot in his heart for his beloved Springer Spaniels. Funeral Service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 2, 2010 at SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST CHAPEL, 1740 Zollinger Road, where friends may call 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Saturday. Rev. Philip Brooks officiating. Interment Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases Fund # 301849, c/o The Ohio State University Foundation, 1480 W. Lane Avenue, Columbus, OH 43221, in his memory.