Bud Perkins, a longtime telecommunications salesman, a contributor to his many communities, and a humble and hard-working leader of his family, passed away peacefully on October 21 following a lengthy battle with cancer.
He is remembered as an unpretentious man with a big heart – someone who loved unconditionally, helped others, and enjoyed building and fixing things for friends, family members and especially for his grandkids. He lived a life of prayerful contemplation, and he said what he meant and meant what he said.
Bud was born on November 26, 1944, and grew up in Titusville, PA, as the youngest in a family of five children. He graduated from Saint Titus High School and entered the U.S. Navy at 17, serving as a rescue swimmer in a helicopter rescue unit on the USS Midway in the western Pacific during the Vietnam War.
Following his four years of military service, Bud obtained a degree at Ganon College. He went to work in Pennsylvania as a telecommunications sales professional for Stromberg (later Siemens). His career took him to Ohio (in 1971), New York state (1972), Florida (1977), Kansas City (1996) and Virginia (2001). He retired in Virginia and returned to Florida in 2014.
Cancer was an unfortunate presence throughout the later years of Bud’s life. He was first diagnosed in 2002. It returned in 2005.
Bud was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Perkins and Oneita Prenatt Perkins; by brothers Richard Perkins and Jim Perkins; and by sister Barb Milo. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Dorothy Perkins; daughters Marlene Galvan (Daytona Beach), Amy Perkins (Lake Mary) and Deanna Corder (Harrisonburg, VA); sister Joan Bodamer (Oil City, PA); grandchildren Dawn Aiello, Brittney Winter, Jacob Galvan, Gary R. Corder, John Corder, Emma Corder, Jake Perkins, Zane Perkins; and great grandchildren Natalie Dickerson and Nate Dickerson; along with several nieces and nephews scattered throughout Florida, Pennsylvania, New York and California
Bud is remembered as meticulous planner and as someone who walked the walk. He was a list man, and he kept his lists close. He held high expectations of those around him because he held the same for himself. Friends and family members referred to him as MacGyver because of his talent for repairing and restoring seemingly unfixable items and for making toys built from materials he had in the garage.
Throughout his life, Bud made sure others around him had what they needed to thrive. He once took in a homeless family to help regain a stable living situation. In addition to being a good provider for his wife and three daughters, he was active in church, serving on boards, helping in his kids’ Sunday school classes and helping in the nursery. His family remembers his wonderful singing voice, both from the pews and in the choir – and that he often recited the Lord’s Prayer and Psalm 23 during tough times.
No services are planned. Family members will scatter Bud’s ashes where his parents are buried in Pennsylvania.
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