Obituary of William D. Perkins

William D. Perkins, 94, of Halifax, passed away on February 4, 2019 in Abington.

William Dana Perkins (Bill) was born in Lewiston, Maine to Leon Winthrop and Mary Cook Perkins on July 19, 1924. After graduating from high school he entered Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. This was interrupted by WWII when he joined the Navy serving in the Pacific as an aviation tail gunner and radioman (ARM 2/C (T) V6 USNR VB85), based on the aircraft carrier USS Shangri-La. After being honorably discharged December 10, 1945, he resumed his education at Bates graduating with a BA in English in 1949. In 1954 he graduated from Penn State with a masters in School Administration. He worked as Principal of three schools in Nantucket Island, MA; Elementary School in Pennington, NJ; then moved back to MA was the Assistant Superintendent in the Whitman-Hanson school system, later becoming Superintendent; after which he accepted the Principal of Bowman Elementary School in Lexington, MA. As a resident of Halifax, MA he served as an Assessor and was active in the Halifax Historical Society. He was a naturalist, studying coral reefs off the Yucatan Peninsula, an expert on beach sand on Nantucket Island; was active at the South Shore Science Center in Norwell, MA; Illustrator for a Nantucket Island coloring book for kids; authored and published a book on the Natural History of the Boston Harbor Island; Authored an index to the birds in John Burroughs’ journals; and was founder of Concept Company which made educational math games for schools.

Bill Perkins is preceded in death by his wife Ruth Vosmus Perkins, his sister Mary Perkins Shaw and a great-granddaughter Elina Perkins. He is survived by his three children; Cynthia P. Pottala of Libertytown, MD; Wm. Dana Perkins, Jr. of DeMotte, Indiana; Susan J. Perkins of Halifax, MA. He is also survived by 3 grandsons and 14 great-grandchildren.

Visiting hours will be held on Monday, February 11th from 4-8:00 PM at the Shepherd Funeral Home, 7 Mattakeesett St (Rt. 14) Pembroke. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, February 12th at 11:00 AM at Temple Baptist Church, 540 Manley St, W. Bridgewater, MA with Pastor Bill Smith officiating. Graveside services will be held at a later date at the Riverside Cemetery in Ogonquit, ME. Donations can be made to Temple Baptist Church, 540 Manley St, W. Bridgewater, MA 02379, designate to Missions home and abroad.