Kenneth Alvin Perry

Kenneth Alvin Perry, 89, born on December 23, 1925 in Canonsburg, PA died on November 16, 2015 leaving his wife, of 70 years, Helen Beth Bentley Perry, and children Scott Kenneth Perry (Donna), Pamela Perry-Wiker (“Skip”) and Angela Perry Minford (Jeff- deceased) as well as three grandchildren; Todd Allen Wiker (Kellie), Leah Jean Minford-Huggins and Perry James Minford (Tasha) and two great grandchildren; Sofia and Bailey. He is preceded in death by parents, a sister and a son-in-law. Kenneth proudly entered the U.S. Navy in 1943. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and the Korean War, the latter serving in the Special Weapons Unit aboard the U.S.S. Oriskany. He also served on the U.S.S. Tarawa, the U.S.S. Lake Champlain as well as Patrol Squadron 8 (VP-8) and various bases from coast to coast. He retired from the Navy in 1965. He also retired from NARF, NAS, Jacksonville after twenty years. A celebration of Kenneth’s life will be held on Wednesday, December 2nd from 10:30 AM-12:00 PM at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin. Interment with Military Honors will be Wednesday, December 2nd at 2:30 PM at the Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32218. “Requiem” “Under the wide and starry sky/ Dig the grave and let me lie./ Glad did I live and gladly die,/ And I laid me down with a will./ This be the verse you ‘grave for me:/ Here he lies where he long’d to be;/ Home is the sailor, home from the sea, / And the hunter home from the hill.” Rober Louis Stevenson Arrangements are under the care and direction of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin, 11801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32223. www.hgmandarin.com (904) 288-0025.