Joe Dale Perkins

Joe Dale Perkins drifted away peacefully to be with the Lord and his beloved wife Betty, July 20, 2018, at his home in Crockett, Texas. Joe was born December 30, 1937 in Winfield, Texas, to J.D. Perkins and Viola Blankenship Perkins. He had an older sister Martha and younger sister Carol.

Joe joined the Navy in 1956 and served on the U.S.S. Lexington and the U.S.S. Essex. During his time in the Navy, he met the love of his life Betty McCullough in El Centro, CA at the “Waikiki Drive-In”. They began dating and he hitchhiked back and forth from San Diego, CA to Brawley, CA just to see her. They married soon after and were married for 60 years.

Joe and Betty had two children, a daughter Pamela Jean, and a son Ronald Dale. The family moved around a lot but eventually settled in the Houston area. Joe worked for Duecker Rubber Service for 45 years, making and servicing conveyor belts. His job required him to travel extensively and also required a great deal of physical labor in harsh conditions. He put his all into working and providing for his family the best way he could. Joe enjoyed John Wayne movies, the Dallas Cowboys, Lone Star beer, children, and animals.

He was a dad and grandfather to not only his kids and grandkids, but to their friends as well, including his daughter’s close friends Becky Roberson and Lynn Harrison. Joe also had a knack for making a friend out of nearly any animal he came across. He was always feeding a stray cat or dog, and even managed to befriend a neighbor’s unruly bull. Later in life, he often enjoyed riding around on his John Deere Gator or in his truck with his beloved little dog and constant companion, “Tuff”.

Joe loved a nice car, and could often be found in the garage or in the driveway working on a car with his son or grandsons. If not doing that, he could usually be found enjoying a bowl of beans, (his favorite meal), made daily for him by Betty, or watching a John Wayne movie, with a cold beer in his hand.

Joe is preceded in death by his wife Betty McCullough Perkins, his parents J.D. Perkins and Viola Blankenship McMinn, and his father and mother in law, Maurice and Elva McCullough.

Joe is survived by his daughter Pamela Wilcox, son Ronald Dale Perkins and his wife Sheri Perkins, grandson Michael A. Plummer, Sr. and his wife Misty Plummer, grandson, Christopher Plummer and his wife Melissa Plummer, grand-daughter, Candace Wilcox and her husband Robert Wilcox, grandson, Garrett Perkins and his wife Brooke Perkins, and great-grandchildren, Michael A. Plummer, Jr., Summer Plummer, Mikayla Plummer, Madyson Plummer, Christopher D. Plummer, Sam Wilcox, Nolan Perkins and Eli Perkins, sister, Martha Runnels and her husband Burl Runnels, sister Carol McKee and her husband Walter McKee, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, dear family friends Becky Roberson, Lynn Harrison, and special mention of dear friend Mike Dabold. Joe will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

Visitation will be July 26, 2018 at 9:00 am with a chapel funeral service to follow at 10:00am, at Brookside Funeral Home in Houston, Texas.