Ralph Edwin Perry

Ralph Edwin Perry, of Slater Street, Attleboro and Everett Avenue, Bristol, Rhode Island; formerly of West Street, Attleboro died on Sunday evening, January 29, 2012 at the Life Care Center of Attleboro following a period of declining health. He was the beloved and cherished husband of the late Shirley Eloise (Faucette) Perry to whom he was married on April 14, 1945 and who died on August 12, 2007. Born in Attleboro, Massachusetts on September 24, 1915, he was a son of Cornelius and Fanny (Clews) Perry. He was raised and educated in Attleboro where he was a member of the Attleboro High School graduating class of 1933. He remained a lifelong resident of his native community while maintaining a home on the water in Bristol, Rhode Island. Mr. Perry started his career in the printing department of the former Colonial Laundries in Providence, Rhode Island where he was employed for two years prior to joining M. F. Ashley Lumber Company in Attleboro as a lumber salesperson prior to joining the United States Army. Mr. Perry proudly served with the United States Army from January 12, 1942 until his honorable discharge on September 30, 1945. He started his military training at Fort Devens and reported to Fort Lawton in Laramie, Wyoming for basic training prior to Seattle, Washington and then to Fort Ray, Alaska where he achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was later appointed First Sergeant in charge of an engineering utility company and was responsible for coastal protection for six islands and was then transferred to Fort Durham, North Carolina for discharge. Upon return from his military service, Mr. Perry returned to M. F. Ashley Lumber Company in Attleboro. It was a time when people were building their own homes so he assisted selecting materials and design issues as a Home Consultant. In 1957, Mr. Perry began his tenure with Texas Instruments in Attleboro and retired in 1983 after having served as a Senior Buyer responsible for purchasing all the materials for the nuclear program and metals such as steel, aluminum, gold and silver. Mr. Perrys late wife, Shirley E. Perry, was employed as a secretary at the First Presbyterian Church in Durham, North Carolina for five years. During this time she met her future husband while he was concluding his military service and the two were married on April 14, 1945. A longtime active member of Centenary United Methodist Church in Attleboro, Mr. Perry attended the church for ninety-six years and was a member for eighty-four years. Over the years, Mr. Perry literally served on every church committee including twelve years as chairman of the Administrative Board, the governing section of the church. He and Bill Watson were responsible for creating a center aisle in the church and was a key person in the major renovations conducted to the church during the 1980s. An active member of numerous civic and social organizations, Mr. Perry served on the Board of Directors of the Daggett-Crandall-Newcomb Home in Norton, was the chairman of the Troop Committee for Troop 38 of the Boy Scouts and planned trips for the scouts to New Hampshire campgrounds and Boston Red Sox games. In 1963, Mr. Perry was elected as a member of the City of Attleboro School Committee and had a commitment to the children of Attleboro. He was elected to the Board of Directors for the Woodlawn-North Purchase Cemetery Association in 1971 and continued in that capacity currently. While on that board, Mr. Perry served as chairman of the building committee to construct the crematory and office building at North Purchase Cemetery. An ardent woodworker, Mr. Perry enjoyed making furniture and knickknacks and restoring and repairing older furniture. He built both his homes in Attleboro and in Bristol. Helping families improve their properties was also a favorite pastime. He enjoyed gardening and prided himself on maintaining a beautifully landscaped property with a love for tending to his flowers and shrubs. His most treasured times were those spent enjoying the company of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and attending their activities such as recitals, concerts and sporting events. A favorite pastime was when the family would unite to celebrate holidays. In earlier years, time spent camping with his young children was enjoyable and traveling in his motor home cross country to visit Fort Ray in Sitka, Alaska and the Colorado Rockies. He enjoyed partaking in cruises, visiting Alaska, Bermuda and regions throughout the United States. He especially enjoyed trips in the car to North Carolina to visit family and a trip to Disney World with the Lesperance family. He was the father of Susan E. Lesperance and her husband, Brian D. Lesperance, with whom he resided in Attleboro; Donald E. Perry and his wife, Jill (Sunderland) Perry of Sagamore Beach and the late Steven T. Perry who died in 1969; beloved grandfather of Pamela Lesperance-Suprenard and her husband, Paul Suprenard, of Rehoboth; the late Jennifer L. Lesperance who died on March 17, 2001; Jessica L. Perry , Allyson J. Perry, Kaleigh E. Perry and Jack E. Perry all of Sagamore Beach and was the maternal great grandfather of Jacob D. Suprenard and Matthew Steven Suprenard both of Rehoboth. He was the brother of the late E. Joseph Perry and his wife, Lottie Perry, Jabez Perry and his wife, Margaret Perry, Mary Patt and her husband, Don Patt, Charlotte Watson and her husband, Bill and the late infant, Silas Perry. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend visitation on Friday, February 3, 2012 from 4:00 8:00 PM in the Memorial Chapel of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, (exit 5 off I-95 N or S, go right at end of ramp, funeral home mile on the left), Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro. Childrens room available during visitation. For those in need of a ride to visitation may simply call the funeral home at (508) 695-0200 to make an advance reservation for such gratis transportation. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend funeral services on Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 3:00 PM in the Centenary United Methodist Church, 39 North Main Street at Sanford Street, Attleboro, with the Rev. Nancy Collins, Pastor, officiating. Following funeral services, an invitation will be extended to join the family for a time of fellowship and refreshment in Studley Hall of Centenary United Methodist Church, Attleboro. Family and friends will be invited to attend a graveside service at North Purchase Cemetery, North Main Street, Attleboro at a later time to be announced. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Memorial Gift Fund of Centenary United Methodist Church, Stanford Street, Attleboro, MA 02703. To send the family an expression of your sympathy, please visit an online register book at www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com . Arrangements under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro. (508) 695-0200.