David Perryman

David was born on April 3, 1954, in Del Rio, Texas, to Charles Leonard Perryman and Betty Shumate Perryman. With his father being in the USAF, David spent some time in New Mexico and New Hampshire, before the family was stationed at Travis AFB near Fairfield, California for 10 years. Those childhood years spent in Northern California in the ‘60s and early ‘70s were immensely transformative.

As a child, he played baseball and later excelled in track and field events and ran the 400 meters in high school. A popular and charismatic student, David excelled in school and had many interests, with music at the top. As a teenager, David spent countless days and nights in San Francisco watching his favorite bands at a wide variety of venues from the Fillmore West to the Avalon Ballroom and others. He saw nearly every band that came through the late ‘60s.

When his father retired from the Air Force in 1972 and returned to Texas, David stayed in California until 1974 before relocating to Texas, eventually going to the University of Texas at Austin. In 1975, he met, fell in love at first sight, and pursued Janet Jorgensen. They would marry in 1978.

After getting his Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies & History in 1985 from University of Texas at Dallas, David began to develop an interest in teaching. He completed his teaching certificate while working as a bartender, bar manager and restaurant manager at night.

David taught for 29 years first at South Grand Prairie High School and then Grand Prairie High School, teaching a wide range of History, Advanced Placement History, AP Economics and AP Psychology. He loved Asian Art and going to museums. His vinyl record collection is extensive. His vocabulary would rival Roget.

David was passionate about working with students, especially guiding and training for Academic Decathlon Competitions. Many of his Academic Decathlon teams and individual students won numerous medals of excellence and went on to win many Regional and State AD championships. He very much enjoyed teaching, learning, debating, and sharing knowledge of History, Art, Politics, Music, Economics and so much more.

David retired from teaching in 2019 and was looking forward to spending unfettered time with his family. David was the eldest of three siblings and is predeceased by his brother, Steve Perryman, and is survived by his sister, Kittie Perryman of Lewisville, Texas. David is also survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Janet J. Perryman, and their daughter, Caitlen (Perryman) Politz, grandson Landon, and son-in-law Shane, all of Princeton, Texas.

David’s family will host a memorial service on Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. The service will be at Rolling Oaks Funeral Home, 400 Freeport Parkway, Coppell, Texas 75019. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to public education and cancer research.