Joseph Perrin

LAKELAND -- Mr. Joseph Ray Perrin of Lakeland died of lung failure Wednesday (Dec. 1, 2004) at Florida Presbyterian Homes Nursing Home. He was 81.Born in Ponchatoula, La., on Aug. 16, 1923, he came to Lakeland from Bartow four years ago. He was a chemist for Estech and Swift and Co. He was a former member of the Bartow Public Library Board. He graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in chemistry. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lakeland and was a founding parishioner of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Bartow.Mr. Perrin is survived by his wife, Sue Perrin; son, Gene Perrin, Bristol, Tenn., John Perrin, Panama City; daughter, Susanna Merritt, Tampa; sister, Edna Perrin, Ponchatoula; brother, Pat Perin, Shreveport, La.; five grandchildren.Visitation will be from 6 to 8 this evening at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, 650 E. Main St., Bartow. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Thomas Catholic Church, 2180 S. Kissingen Ave., Bartow. Memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, P.O. Box 7129, Winter Haven.