Herbert Perkinson

Herbert Russell “Bert” Perkinson Jr., 93, of Topping,Va., formerly of Richmond, died August 7, 2013. He was preceded in death by his wife, Pat Royal Perkinson and is survived by his daughter, Jean Holman, and her husband, Dave, of Richmond; son, Russ, and his wife, Margaret, of Mechanicsville; granddaughter, Ashley Lancaster, and her husband, Will, of Mechanicsville; and grandson, Rob Perkinson, of Richmond. Bert was fond of pointing out that “the good Lord could give a person no better start than to let him be born a Virginian.” Born in Richmond, he was a member of the cadet corps of John Marshall High School and Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He volunteered in World War II and proudly served with the U.S. Army 1876th Aviation Engineers as a unit commander in the New Guinea, Dutch East Indies and Philippines campaigns, and in the occupation of Japan. He began his 42-year career with the Virginia Department of Highways as a senior engineering draftsman and rose through varied engineering positions. He was director of program management at the time he retired. After Bert and Pat moved full-time to Middlesex County in 1987, he devoted himself to the continued restoration and care of their nineteenth-century home. Visitors might spot him at the top of a ladder working on one of the tall chimneys or building a shed with son Russ. He also enjoyed golf and was a founding member of the Piankatank River Golf Club in Hartfield. Later in life he renewed his love of music and dancing and appreciated people who “had the beat.” He cherished his family and friends, and he never met a stranger. The family will meet friends on Saturday, August 17, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Bristow-Faulkner Funeral Home in Saluda,Va. A private burial service will be held at a later date at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Virginia Tech Foundation (for Corps of Cadets Emerging Leader Scholarships), University Development, Virginia Tech, 902 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg, VA 24061.