Perkins

Don Perkins, 94, of Rock-dale died Sunday, July 15, 2018, at his home in Rock-dale.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, July 18, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale with Steve Walker officiating. Burial was at Sandy Creek Cemetery near Milano.

Mr. Perkins was born Oct. 27, 1923, in Florence to Ollie Roy and Selita Olita “Lettie” (Mitcheltree) Perkins.

He graduated high school in Briggs.

Mr. Perkins was a member of Civilian Conservation Corps and attended Spartan College of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

On July 13, 1946, he married Elizabeth Ann “Betty” Lichtenhahn in Burnet. They lived in Austin, Odessa, San Angelo, Houston and McAllen.

Mr. Perkins was an airline mechanic inspector for 31 years. He started in Houston with Trans Texas Airways, then went to McAllen where he worked with Texas International Airline and retired from Continental Airlines in 1980.

After retirement, the Perkins came to Rockdale where he opened and operated Rockdale Mower & More, a small engine repair and sales from 1980 to 2008.

Mr. Perkins was an active member of Milano Church of Christ, teaching, leading songs, writing sermonettes for a church paper, correspondent with missions the church supported and was the church treasurer.

He built an airplane that he called “Putnik” in 1958 and received the Golden Hammer from Mechanics Illustrated for the airplane.

He enjoyed flying, genealogy, family history, watching backyard birds, the computer and white-water canoeing.

Mr. Perkins was preceded in death by a daughter, Deborah Lee Mimun; his parents; a brother, Richard Perkins; and a brother-in-law, Bill Layne.

Survivors are his wife of 72 years, Betty Perkins of Rockdale; two daughters, Donna E. Perkins of Houston and Eileene Perkins of Rockdale; a son Charles Perkins and wife Donna L. of Rockdale; a son-in-law, Remy Mimun of San Antonio; seven grandchildren, Dea Everett and wife Dianna, Tonja Moore and husband Jimbo, Olivia Blackburn and husband Kory, Daniel Mimun, Aaron Mimun, Dylan Gereszek and Jared Earl; seven great-grandchildren, David Moore and wife Jackie, Ciera Jaynes and husband Jack, Rachel Moore, Marlena Mimun, Charles Everett, Hazel Everett and William Everett; and two great-great-grandchildren, Elias Jaynes and Lorelai Moore.

Pallbearers were Craig Crowe, Danny Crowe, David Moore, Jimbo Moore, Calvin Crowe and Nathan Crowe. Honorary pallbearer, Dylan Gereszek.