William Hayden Perkins

Born at home on June 5, 1927, in Clinton Township, the son of William Oscar and Jessie Hazel (Wood) Perkins. He was a graduate of Greencastle High School “Class of 1946”. He married Clema Jean Shonkwiler on November 7, 1948, at the home of her parents.

Bill retired from Allison’s, where he had worked as a supervisor. After retirement he became an avid woodworker and especially enjoyed making Christian crosses, puzzles and was known for his stick through the buttonhole “calling card”. Bill and Clema enjoyed traveling visiting eleven countries and 48 states . They also enjoyed visiting relatives who lived all over the country.

He was a life member of Morton Masonic Lodge #498, 3rd Degree Master Mason and Chaplain; F. & A.M., Scottish Rite, Indianapolis 1976: Shriners of Indiana, and Putnam County Shrine Club; Bainbridge Saddle Club, Life member of the International Wood Collectors Society, Putnam County Woodworkers helping to guide several Putnam County 4-H woodworkers and helped to secure award for the fair champions. Bill was a founding member and helped to clear the land for the present Bainbridge Saddle Club. Bill also saddle-broke over fifty horses for various people prior to his retirement.

He was a member of Roachdale Presbyterian Church where he served as a deacon, elder, and Sunday school teacher, and was active at First Methodist Church in Eustis, Florida when wintering there for 30 years, where he mentored several boys and made over 1,000 Methodist Crosses.

He and wife Clema were honored with the “Spirit of the Fair” at the Putnam County Fair in 1994.

He was preceded in death by his wife Clema in 2016; his parents; brothers James Wood “Woody” Porter and Robert Stanley Perkins; great grandson Noah Patrick Griffin; in-laws Marshall Schonkwiler, Malcom & Norma Shonkwiler; Harold & Joan Alcorn; Glen Scaggs, and William Reeves; and best friend Don Winings.

Bill is survived by his children Nancy Kay Thomson & husband Mark of Sherman, TX, Anita Custis & husband Jerry of Fillmore, IN, and William Estel Perkins & wife Debbie of Roachdale, IN; grandchildren Matthew Thomson, Jamie Custis Smith & husband Larry, Katherine Thomson, Jean Ann Custis Neese & husband Wesley, William Charles Perkins, John Custis & wife Bethany, Brooke Perkins Griffin & husband Brent, and Jay Custis & wife Rebecca; great grandchildren Madelyn Thomson, Steven Wayne & Brayden Wesley Neese, Shelby Lynn, Sydney Marie, & Sarah Joyce Smith, William James Perkins, Andrew Gerald, Oliver Norman & Lucille Mae Custis, Liam Joseph, Laney Joy & Liza Jane Custis, Emma Lynn & Lila Grace Griffin; sisters-in-law Betty Perkins, Roberta Scaggs, Loisdene Reeves; and Mary Shonkwiler; several nieces and nephews; and the Winings family, Claire, Gene, David, & Denee.

Masonic Services to honor Bill as a lifetime member and 75 year honoree will begin at 1:00 PM on Saturday, February 8, 2025, followed by funeral services at the Hopkins-Rector Funeral Home. Interment will follow at the Union Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery, which was founded by his grandfather, William Perkins, Jr.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM until time of service on Saturday at the funeral home.

The family would like to thank the staff of Autumn Glen Retirement Community for their care for the past six years.