Obituary

Clifford H. Perkins, Jr.

YORK - Clifford H. Perkins, Jr., 82, formerly of Raymond, N.H., passed away Thursday, July 20, 2006, at his residence in York.

Clifford "Bud" was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on Nov. 21, 1923, the son of Clifford and Elizabeth (Watson) Perkins. Bud was raised in Claremont and Keene, N.H., and attended the University of New Hampshire until drafted by the Army for service in World War II. During WWII, Bud served in the 86th Regiment of the 10th Mountain Division in Italy.

Following the war, Bud graduated from Keene State College in 1947. In 1948 he married the love of his life, the late Priscilla Ann (Isroe) of Keene, N.H. They were married for almost 51 years. In August of 1950, Bud was recalled to active duty as a second lieutenant with the U.S. Army 14th Regimental Combat Team to prepare troops for duty overseas in the Korean War.

Following the war, Bud returned to Keene to work selling life insurance, playing saxophone and clarinet in a weekend band and raising a family. In 1963 the family moved to Raymond, N.H., where Bud began his career as an elementary school teacher, teaching in Deerfield, Litchfield, Raymond, North Hampton and Kingston, N.H.

Bud's favorite hobbies were gardening, dancing, playing cribbage, fishing, clamming and being a musician.

Clifford and Priscilla retired to Eliot in 1996 to live near their daughter Judy and her family. His greatest joy in life was his family: four children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Clifford is survived by his children; Mary Ellen (Perkins) Houle and her husband Paul of Vestal, N.Y.; Judith Ann (Perkins) Wood and her husband Ken of Eliot; David Joseph Perkins and his wife Pat of Bethel, Conn., and Thomas Henry Perkins and his wife Amy of Barrington N.H.; six grandchildren, Paul Houle Jr., Jennifer (Houle) Latta, David Perkins Jr., Thomas Perkins, James Perkins and Sarah Wood, and four great-grandchildren, Kristina and Kayla Houle and Isabella and Sofia Latta. He is also survived by his sister, Margaret Mary (Perkins) Bailey, of Keene, N.H., and his brother, James Charles Perkins, of Hooksett, N.H.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Mr. Perkins will be held Friday, July 28, at 1 p.m. in Saint Raphael's Parish, 6 Whipple Road, Kittery. Burial will follow in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Eliot.

Calling hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 27, in the Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home, 91 Long Sands Rd., York.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the name of Clifford H. Perkins to Cross Roads House, 600 Lafayette Road, Portsmouth, NH 03801 or to a local charity.