George Holley Perry

George Holley Perry, W5LVX, a resident of Greenwell Springs, Louisiana, was called home to be with the Lord. After a long battle with Alzheimer's, he passed peacefully on Thursday morning July 4, 2013 at Lane Memorial Hospital. George, 87, was born in Felsenthal, Arkansas on December 12, 1925 and is preceded in death by his parents Ruth Johnson Perry and Carl Perry. George had very fond childhood memories of growing up on his grandparent's farm in Leonard, Oklahoma near Bixby, and being introduced to the trumpet at a young age. He attended Gulfport Military Academy on a full Band Scholarship before beginning his education at Louisiana State University. He also joined the United States Navy where he was assigned to the USS Norris DD-859. He served as a Radio Operator during World War II. In addition to his service, he completed radio operators school, and held a Radio Telephone License. He proudly played the trumpet with the LSU marching band. He was a member of Theta Xi fraternity. He helped to put the LSU FM station WLSU on the air and helped to create LSU's AM station WCLA (now WIBR). With both a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering, he was a world-traveled engineer with the Ethyl Corporation and retired after 40 years. In his leisure time he enjoyed talking with fellow HAM operators across the globe and tinkering with his radio equipment. He is survived by his wife of almost 68 years, Willa Mae Dean Perry. They were married October 5, 1945. Together they have four children: Steve Perry and wife Dianne, of Beaverton, Oregon; Rick Perry and wife Kathy, of Northport, Alabama; Becky Young, of Baton Rouge; and Georgiana "Gigi" Starns and husband Gary, of Greenwell Springs. He is also survived by a grandson Doug Atkins and wife Leah, of Zachary; and numerous other grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by three grandchildren: Ricky Lynn Perry, Dylan Perry, and Lacey Perry. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Alzheimer's Association of Greater Baton Rouge or Alzheimer's Services of the Capital Area, 3772 North Blvd., BR, LA 70806. Visitation will be held on Saturday at Greenoaks Funeral Home from 11am until funeral service at 2pm. Interment will follow in Greenoaks Memorial Park. Pallbearers are Garrett Atkins, Doug Atkins, Dal Perry, Heath Starns, Eric Strickland, and Jordan Atkins.