Ira "Papa Tom" Thomas Perry

Ira Thomas “Papa Tom” Perry, 82, of Amherst, passed away Saturday, March 10, 2012 at the Wilson Medical Center in Wilson, NC. He was the loving and devoted husband of Edna Robertson Perry for forty-seven years.

Born November 14, 1929 in Bath County, he was the son of the late Thomas L. and Edith Carpenter Perry and was also preceded in death by one grandson. “Papa” Tom was a retired route salesman with the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company and a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War. He attended Madison Heights Baptist Church.

In addition to his wife, “Papa Tom” is survived by three step-sons, James Wood (Leithia) of Madison Heights; Ray Wood (Mary) of Shipman, and Kenneth Wood (Pat) of New Mexico; two step-daughters, Janice Tyree (Buck) of Madison Heights and Sandra Shirley (Bill Johnson) of Wilson, NC; two sisters, Ruth Hepler of Covington and Shannon Farley of Hot Springs; one brother, Sharon Perry (Ella) of Waynesboro; eleven grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews..

A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at Whitten Monelison Chapel with the Rev. Todd Blake officiating. Interment with military honors by American Legion Post 16 will follow at Ridgecrest Baptist Church Cemetery in Nelson County.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home, prior to the service, from 12:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. and other times at the residence.