Ronald Perkins
Ronald Floyd Perkins was born in a log cabin in rural Minnesota, November 5, 1934. He was the youngest of four children of Floyd and Estelle Perkins. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Ron grew up on a farm, graduated from Verndale High School in 1952, and enlisted in the army in 1953. As a corporal with the Army Security Agency (ASA), he was stationed in Asmara Eritrea, Ethiopia, North Africa. In 1957, he married his childhood sweetheart, LaVonne Van Horn and had two sons, Randy and Dan.
Most of Ron’s career was spent working in the pharmaceutical industry as a sales representative and ultimately district manager for what is now AstraZeneca. From Minneapolis, Ron’s work took the family to Lubbock, Texas for a couple of years before another transfer brought them to Denver in 1966. A love for the city, mountains, and state anchored Ron and his family to Colorado.
Ron enjoyed woodworking and completed many projects during his life. He finished basements and designed and built furniture. His masterpiece is a barn style cabin he designed and built in the mountains of Colorado. Most of the building was constructed without the aid of power tools.
Ron was an avid reader with a passion for books about history and biographies. He was a Free Mason, a member of Lakewood Kiwanis, and the Denver Posse of Westerners. After retirement, he volunteered at the Help Center at Denver’s Channel 7. He also helped children learn to read at a local elementary school.
Throughout his life, Ron enjoyed camping, snow skiing, golf and bowling. When near the ocean he made time for sailing. Ron and Vonnie traveled to nearly every state in the union including Alaska and Hawaii. Overseas adventures included two trips to Australia and New Zealand, and a tour of Beijing and Shanghai, China.
Ron Perkins died on October 5, 2017, after a long and courageous battle against Parkinson’s disease. In recent years he also suffered two broken hips. In late August, he took a fall at home that resulted in a broken pelvis. Heart ailments also contributed to Ron’s decline. Death found Ron resting peacefully under Hospice care at home.
Ron is survived by his wife of 60 years, LaVonne, his sons, Randy and Dan, and his grandchildren, Kara and Cody. Friends and relatives attended the service from Minnesota, Texas and Oregon.
Memorials may be sent to Franklin Graham Samaritan Purse – Operation Heal Our Patriots and The Denver Hospice.