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Obituary (WA): Henry Grady Perkins Jr. '64

Posted on 08/30/2019

Henry "Grady" Perkins Jr.  (September 24, 1940 - August 18, 2019)

CAPT Henry Grady Perkins, Jr. USN (Retired)

Captain Henry “Grady” Perkins, Jr. died of heart failure on August 18. 2019 at the age of 78. He was battling lung disease for several years and was cared for by his loving family. He will be deeply missed.

Grady was born in New Orleans, LA in 1940 and graduated with honors from Bay High School, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi in 1958, where he lettered in four sports. He studied aeronautical engineering at Mississippi State University from 1958-1960, then entered the US Naval Academy in July 1960 and graduated with the class of 1964, while receiving his commission as an Ensign in the Navy.

He earned his Naval Flight Officer wings in 1965 and initiated his career as an aviator by completing two Vietnam cruises with VAW-114 aboard the USS Kitty Hawk, flying the E-2A “Hawkeye.” His final assignment was Commanding Officer of Tactical Air Control Group One aboard the USS Tarawa, during which he completed a deployment in support of Operation Desert Storm. Reflecting on his career with family members, he shared that serving in Desert Storm, which included combat operations, and subsequently working on a humanitarian mission to provide relief and aid in the wake of the 1991 cyclone in Bangladesh were the most meaningful accomplishments in his distinguished military career. He loved the United States of America and was proud to serve in the US Navy. He retired in 1992 with the rank of Captain after 28 years of service.

In addition to loving his country, Grady loved his family, friends and Navy colleagues, travel, premium wines, wildlife, fishing expeditions and he was always ready to tell a great story. After retirement, he moved to Hansville, WA with his wife, Judy, where he had ample opportunity to explore these passions and add to an extensive network of close friends. He is survived by his wife of 44 years and his children, Todd of Hansville, WA, Jamie of Pleasant Hill, CA and Eric (Michele) of San Jose, CA, as well as his six treasured grandchildren, Tyler, Cole, Emily, Zack, Carlee and Hannah.

A service in Grady’s honor is being planned for November 2019 in Hansville, WA. The family asks that if memorial contributions would like to be made, that they are sent to:

Wounded Warrior Project
(855) 448-3997
http://woundedwarriorproject.org

Cook Family Funeral Home
163 Wyatt Way N.E., P.O. Box 11109
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 842-2642
(360) 779-7872
(206) 639-8110
cookfamilyfuneralhome@gmail.com

https://www.cookfamilyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Henry-Perkins-3/#!/Obituary