Paul L Perry

Col. Paul Lawrence Perry, a longtime resident of Roseburg, Oregon, passed away peacefully in his sleep, and was born into his eternal rest March 14, 2015. He was 98 years old and saw the world change greatly over his nearly century of living.

Paul was born in Chelsea, Georgia, September 19, 1916, to Bruce and Guy ("Gee") Perry. Paul joined the Army Air Corps in 1942, was the commander of Johnson Island in the Pacific during WWII, flying out the wounded to safety. He was commissioned to stay in the U.S. Air Force where he proudly served for 30 years, retiring as Colonel. He had many career highlights: Air Transport Command, test pilot, logistics officer at Cape Canaveral, Pentagon, and Chief of Supply of Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. Paul hunted wild boar in Turkey; moose, caribou, wild goat, dahl sheep and salmon in Alaska, scaled mountains and rappelled down them. He embraced life thoroughly, traveled the world for work and pleasure, and was a devout Christian man who loved his family dearly. He will be missed very much by many.

Paul is survived by his loving wife, Gloria Perry of Roseburg, OR; son, Christopher Perry and wife, Linda of Sutherlin, OR; daughter Pamela Sexton and husband, Cleve of Lake Shastina, CA; grandson Robert Perry and wife, Christina of Sutherlin, OR; Gloria's children, William Patterson of Elk Grove Village, IL; Mary Lynn Paul of Mount Carmel, PA: five stepgrandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. Paul was predeceased by his sisters, Evelyn Perry and Martha Hawkins.

There will be a funeral service for Paul on Wednesday, March 18, 2015, 1:00 p.m., at Wilson's Chapel of the Roses, 965 W Harvard Avenue, Roseburg, OR.