Posted on 02/27/2018
CARLTON KAY PERKINS (DEC. 5, 1921 - FEB. 13, 2018)
Everyone who met Dad loved him, even in his final days at Dominican and then with the help of Hospice at home. After 96 years, adjectives used to describe him recently were sweet, kind, polite, thankful and appreciative. His daughters thought of him as "the ROCK"-- intelligent, strong, loyal, hard-working, responsible, and always loving!
Born and raised in Brownsville, Texas, he was known in high school for his prowess as quarterback on the football field and voted "the best physique!" He went on to the Annapolis Naval Academy while his brother, Del, went to West Point—GO NAVY! Graduating him early, he trained as a Marine and was sent off to the South Pacific in WWII. As the war ended, he was trained as a pilot and flew recognizance flights over the DMZ in Korea. After serving his country for 13 years, he then used his aviation and engineering skills to assist companies like McDonald-Douglass, Grumman and finally ended his vocational years as Vice President of Kaiser Aerospace and Electronics.
A Family Man—You Bet! Days before going off to war, Dad married Dossie, the love of his life and wife of 67 years. He had two war babies—Eve, 1945 and Bonnie, 1947. After the war, he "Came home and went back to work for his family because that's what good soldiers did." His third daughter, Jenny, 1958, was born during his working years with Kaiser. Biking, hiking, swimming and vacations to Catalina Island were all squeezed into his busy business life.
Dad retired early from Kaiser and built their dream home in Aptos. He and Dossie spent their days beach combing and yearly snorkeling in Hawaii. Dad rode motorcycles, played tennis and golf.
He is preceded in death most recently by Pete Middlekauff, his son-in-law; his grandsons, Jon Middlekauff and Carl Wolf, and his Love, Dossie Perkins. He was her love, her friend, her source of laughter and her final care giver the final year of her life in 2010.
He is survived by his three girls, Eve Middlekauff, Jenny Howatt, Bonnie Wolf and son-in-law, Joe Wolf; also by his grandchildren, Craig (Lita) and Geoff Middlekauff and Sep (Brynn) Wolf, Josie and Audrey Howatt; and great-grandchildren, Carey and Allison Middlekauff, Haley Rutherford, and Kasia, Kelham and Kana Wolf.
Dad leaves a legacy of integrity and commitment to faith in God, marriage, family and country. We hope to follow in his footsteps and make him proud. We love you, Dad!
Published in Santa Cruz Sentinel on Feb. 27, 2018