Larry Dee Perkins
Larry Dee Perkins, age 72 of New Philadelphia, died on Monday, Feb. 18, 2019, in Aultman Hospital at Canton, following a period of declining health.
A son of the late Darrell and Alyce (Williams) Perkins, Larry was born March 24, 1946, in Dennison.
Larry graduated from New Philadelphia High School in 1964, where he was a member of the football and track teams. Then on May 19, 1969, Larry and the love of his life, the former Mary Gatchell, eloped and were married in Rockville, Maryland. The couple shared 36 years of marriage prior to Mary’s death on May 21, 2005.
Larry retired from A.K. Steel after 33 years of service. During his younger years, he coached youth football and baseball for 15 years. Most of all he cherished his family and enjoyed woodworking with his son, Chris; traveling with his other son, Greg, to film various sporting events; and attending his grandchildren’s activities and events.
Larry is survived by his sons, Greg Perkins and Chris (Angel) Perkins, both of New Philadelphia; his grandchildren, Andy, Kyle and Kayla Perkins, Lindsay Vandyke, Blane (Patti) Neighbor, and Brandon and Bryce Abner; three great-grandchildren, Carson and Maleah Smalley and Teagan Vandyke; two sisters, Sharon (Dan) Kwitchen and Joyce (Dennis) Riggle, both of Richmond, Virginia; two sisters-in-law, Zetta (Jim) Blickensderfer of Dennison and Esther (Chuck) Ivan of Hartville; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, Feb. 21 from 5-8 p.m. in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. A funeral service celebrating Larry’s life will be held on Friday, Feb. 22 at 10:30 a.m. in the funeral home with Pastor Brian Flood officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen Burial Park at New Philadelphia. Following the services, a luncheon will be held in the Geib Family Center at New Philadelphia.
Those wishing to do so may send the family a personal condolence and light a candle in remembrance of Larry by visiting the funeral home's website at www.geibcares.com.
Contributions may be made in Larry’s memory to the American Diabetes Association, 2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 900, Arlington, VA 22202, or to the American Heart Association, 5455 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43214.