The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois

December 16, 1993 - Thursday, pg A2

GEORGE  A.  PERKINS

Prophetstown: - George A. Perkins, 75, of 306 E. Third St., Prophetstown, died Dec. 15, 1993 at Prophets Riverview Center, Prophetstown.  Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at First Congregational Church, Prophetstown, with the Rev. Harry Prince officiating.  Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery, Prophetstown.  Visitation will be from noon until the time of service Saturday at the church. The Gardner Funeral Home, Prophetstown is in charge of arrangements.  A memorial has been established.

Mr. Perkins was born Nov. 24, 1918, in Springhill, the son of George O. and Julia (Parson) Perkins. He attended Springhill Grade School and graduated from Erie High School in 1935.  He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1942 with a B.S. from the College of Engineering and was a member of the Triangle Fraternity.  He was a veteran of World War II serving in the South Pacific.  He married Myrtie Backer Sept. 5, 1945, in Peoria.  After World War II, he returned to Springhill where he worked with his father.  In 1952 he purchased the business and owned and operated Perkins Plumbing and Heating, Prophetstown, for 35 years, retiring in 1952.  He was a member of First Congregational Church, Prophetstown, where he served as chairman of the Board of Trustees, chairman of the Board of Deacons, and Sunday School teacher; served as president of Prophetstown Lions Club in 1959; served on the Prophetstown Park District Board from 1967-1972; served 13 years as a volunteer fireman and for several of those years, served as assistant-fire chief; served many years on the local Boy Scout Council; was president of the Prophet Hills Country Club in 1962; was a former member of H.C. Adams Library Board; was raised in Erie Lodge No. 667 and transferred to Prophetstown Lodge No. 293 where he served as Master in 1957 and secretary from 1980-1990; was a member of Valley of Moline Scottish Rite and in 1976 received the Moline Cross Award; member of the Tebala Shrine, Rockford, where he was Potentate's Aide; member and past president of Rock River Valley Shrine Club; past president of Two Rivers Scottish Rite Club; was member of Minerva Chapter No. 6, Order of Eastern Star, Prophetstown; was conferred the 33rd degree of Freemasonry Sept. 29, 1982, at the annual session of the Supreme Council of Scottish Rite, St. Louis, Mo.; and was a member of Sterling-Rock Falls Barbershop Chorus.

Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Kleo Becker of North Smithfield, R.I.; one son, George Frederick Perkins of Normal; two granddaughters; three sisters, Mrs. Arvid (Ruth) Lodge and Mrs. Albert (Esther) Luchman, both of Geneseo, and Eleanor Hill of Geneva.