Reverend Thomas L. Perry

Reverend Thomas Lee Perry, 90, of Williamsport, Maryland, passed away Friday, November 21, 2025, at Seaton Hagerstown Assisted Living Facility. After a fulfilling life, he died from Alzheimer's. Born September 6, 1935, in Washington DC, he was the son of the late Wallace George Perry, Sr. and the late Edythe (Swann) Perry.

Tom was an ordained minister with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He was the pastor at many churches in Virginia and Maryland. He attended Maryville College, Union Presbyterian Seminary, and Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg.

Tom and Linda met in Richmond when Tom was in seminary and Linda was attending the Presbyterian School of Christian Education. They were married for 62 wonderful years, spending the last 39 years in Das Perrywinkle Haus in Williamsport, Maryland.

Tom had a generous heart. Tom and Linda opened their home to bicycle groups, exchange students, seminary students, and many others. Tom loved music and entertained guests playing the pipe organ in his house. He was the organist at various churches, including Zion Lutheran Church in Williamsport.

Tom's grandmother emigrated from Germany and taught him to speak German. He was proud of his German heritage (and his sauerkraut recipe). He taught German classes at Frederick Community College and Hagerstown Community College.

Tom loved biking, especially on the C&O Canal, logging thousands of miles each year. He led many bike trips on the canal, including scouts, campers at Mar-Lu-Ridge, youth groups, family members, friends, and others. Tom introduced each of his grandsons to the canal, biking and camping from Cumberland to Georgetown.

He was devoted to the canal and its preservation. He was a member of the C & O Canal Association, its president for several years, and a level walker, picking up trash and pulling out invasive weeds. After flooding damaged the canal towpath, Tom worked to restore the towpath as chair of the Big Slackwater Restoration Committee. He was active in the community. He was a member of the Hagerstown Lions Club and the Lutheran Clergy Group. He volunteered at Meritus Medical Center.

He is survived by his wife, Linda Echols Perry; daughter, Katie Perry; daughter, Heidi Gardner and husband David; brother, Robert Perry and wife Jane; grandson, Markus Scott and wife Hayley; grandson, Samuel Gardner and fiance Alyssa; grandson, Levi Gardner and fiance Kacper; and great-granddaughter, Marli Scott; and a large extended family. He was predeceased by two of his brothers, Wallace Perry, Jr., and John Perry.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 11:00 am, at Zion Lutheran Church, 35 West Potomac Street, Williamsport, Maryland, where he was a member. [Pastor Kaplan to provide the clergy information to Fiery.] The service can also be viewed using the link found on Tom's obituary page at douglasfiery.com

Following the service, family and friends will enjoy a luncheon and reminisce about Tom. Inurnment will be held privately with the family at the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery, Mt. Jackson, VA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to, Zion Lutheran Church, 35 West Potomac Street, Williamsport, Maryland 21795, Hospice of Washington County, 1710 Underpass Way, Suite 300, Hagerstown, MD 21740, or the C&O Canal Association, P.O. Box 366, Glen Echo, MD 20812-0366 (candocanal.org/
contributions).

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Douglas A. Fiery Funeral Home, 1331 Eastern Blvd. North, Hagerstown, MD.

Online condolences may be expressed at douglasfiery.com