Gerald Perry

Gerald D. Perry, 86, of Odessa Texas passed away on Monday, December 25, 2017 surrounded by his loving family in DeLeon, Texas.

Gerald was born in Wayland Texas on August 24, 1931 to John Royce and Laura Jeanette Perry. He graduated from Odessa High School in 1949 and joined the Navy in 1951 where he served on the U.S.S. Yorktown during the Korean War where he saw tours of duty in Japan and China. Following discharge from the Navy in 1955, he attended Stanford University before graduating from the University of Texas in 1959 with a degree in Geology.

Gerald dedicated his life's work to the oil and gas industry. During high school and prior to joining the Navy, Gerald worked for Shorty Hall Rig Co. and Loffland Brothers. After college graduation, Gerald moved back to Odessa to start his 35 year career with Dia-Log. His employment relocated him to Houma LA, Casper WY, Vernal UT, Williston ND and Great Bend KS. While employed at Dia-Log he worked on the Alaskan oil pipeline in Prudhoe Bay and an offshore oil platform in the Bearing Sea near Norway. After retirement, he continued consulting with Dia-Log on projects in Trinidad & Tobago.

While on leave from the Navy, he reunited with a childhood friend, Virginia Ann Crow. A long distance courtship began while he returned to his San Diego Naval Base and she to her studies at North Texas State in Denton. Gerald ultimately proposed marriage and presented her with an engagement ring via the U.S. Mail. The story is told that her classes had to be cancelled that day because the instructor couldn't compete with the attention of the ring. Gerald and Virginia were married March 13, 1954.

Gerald and Virginia started their family in Williston ND in 1966 with the welcoming of a son, Patrick Dean and a daughter, Elizabeth Ann in 1967. A second son, Robert Edward, 1968, passed away due to complications of childbirth. They returned to Odessa in 1971 to raise their family.

After 32 years of a happy and loving marriage, Virginia lost her battle with cancer in 1986.

In 1987, Gerald married a long-time friend of both he and Virginia, La Veta M. Hodge. Over the 30 year span of their loving marriage, they shared a full life of retirement with travel, leisure and building memories with their grandchildren. La Veta preceeded Gerald in death on August 21, 2017 after losing her battle with cancer.

Outside of raising his family, his greatest joys were being involved in track & field where he served as a starter and an operator of the Lynx finish line equipment at the high school and college level. He served countless years on the Board of Directors for the Permian Basin Oil Show. A volunteer driver for the Disabled American Veterans organization ensuring that our returning war heroes were able to receive the medical care that they deserved. Gerald also was a lifetime member and past master of McFarland Masonic Lodge of Odessa, TX. Gerald literally touched thousands of lives through his unselfish acts of kindness and servitude.

Gerald is preceded in death by his parents, John R.Perry and Laura J.Perry; brother, Bill R.Perry; sister, Linda Wallender; son, Robert E. Perry; Spouses, Virginia A.Perry and La Veta M.Perry; in-laws, W.B. Crow and Tinnie Mae Crow; sister-in-laws, Vanna Lou Wortham and Wanda Perry.

Gerald is survived by son, Patrick D. and wife Hollye Perry of Saginaw, Texas, their children Nolan, Austin and Hunter; daughter, Elizabeth Perry-Whitsell and spouse Dennis Whitsell of DeLeon Texas, their children Luke and Madison; step-daughter, Lisa Hodge of Odessa Texas; brother-in-laws, David Wallender, Byron Wortham of Odessa Texas, Jim Gehrels of Winters Texas, David Stamps, Grapes Creek Texas; sister-in-law, Donna Stamps of Grapes Creek, Texas; nephews and nieces, Dean Perry, John Perry, Joe Wallander, Tine Wallender, Susan Maxwell, Molly Wyatt, Michelle Smith and Marcelle Patterson, Richard Wortham, Mike Wortham, Jamie Monahan, Leslie Woodfin and a large number of great nieces and nephews too numerous to mention by name.

Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 pm, Friday, December 29, 2017 at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am, Saturday, December 30, 2017 at Highland United Methodist Church, Odessa Texas, followed by burial at Sunset Memorial Gardens with Dustin Burrow officiating.

Arrangements are entrusted to Sunset Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home. To send family condolences please sign his guestbook at www.sunsetodessa.com.

Visitation

Family and Friends Gathering

Sunset Memorial Funeral Home
6801 E. Business 20
Odessa, TX  79762
Friday, December 29, 2017
5:00-7:00 pm

Service

Funeral Service

Highland United Methodist Church
1808 N. Dixie Blvd
Odessa, TX  79761
Saturday, December 30, 2017
10:00 am

Cemetery

Sunset Memorial Gardens
6801 E. Business 20
Odessa, TX  79762