James W. Perkins

James W. Perkins died Sunday Nov. 21st, at his home in Waterford.

He was born December 8, 1919, in New York City, the son of Walter Joseph and Katherine Rieger Perkins.

After graduating from Bulkeley School in 1937, Jim attended New London Business College. When World War II broke out, he joined the Marine Corps, eventually becoming a sergeant; he was proud to be a Marine. After the war he studied banking at Rutgers, Purdue, and Columbia University. He worked for Union Bank & Trust Co. in New London, and for the New London National Bank. He went on to become a vice president of the Hartford National Bank, and a senior vice president of the Savings Bank of New London. He installed the first ATM machine (a Docutel) in southeastern Ct. in 1968.

Mr. Perkins was a past president of the Child Guidance Clinic of SE Ct., a director of the Clifford Beers Guidance Clinic of New Haven, of the Salvation Army, and of the New London Country Club. He was chair of the 1979 United Way Fund Drive, a treasurer for Big Brothers/Sisters, for the Community Chest, for the Waterford Week Committee, and also for the Waterford Nursing Association. He was also a tutor for the Literacy Volunteers of SE CT., and a past president of the Rope Ferry Commons, Inc. He was also a volunteer at the Garde, for the summer music program, with Friends of Harkness, at Mystic Seaport, and the New London Community Meal Site. He was an active member of the Flanders Baptist & Community Church in Wat Lyme.

He married the former Ruth Vine Quinn. She died March 26, 1996. He is survived by his longtime friend Shirley Evens of Waterford.

A funeral service will be held on Monday at 11am in Flanders Baptist and Community Church, Boston Post Rd., East Lyme. Burial with military honors will follow in Jordan Cemetery, Waterford. Donations in his memory may be made to either the Ct. Humane Society, 169 Old Colchester Rd., Quaker Hill, CT 06375 or to Flanders Baptist and Community Church, 138 Boston Post Rd., East Lyme, CT 06333. To sign the on line guest book, visit www.fultontherouxnewlondon.com