William Merrill Perkins

William Merrill Perkins was born 8 July 1917 to William Richard and Mamie Coombs Perkins in Farmington, Utah.

He died from natural causes incident to age on 13 February 2016. He graduated from Davis High in 1935 and then attended the University of Utah. In August 1940 he married Augusta Rigby. The marriage was later consecrated in the Salt Lake City LDS temple in 1943. In 1943 he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps and after graduating from aviation cadets became a pilot. He flew C-47’s and dropped paratroopers in Holland and in Germany in addition to numerous supply runs to embattled forces at Bastogne and other European sites. He received the Air Medal and was wounded during his wartime exploits.

After World War II he was called up from the reserves during the Berlin Airlift in 1948. He flew C-54’s to that encircled city until the Soviets opened the border in 1949. He was called up again in 1950 during the Korean war and served in Greenland and Newfoundland. In 1952 he flew a rescue mission to the North Pole to save a research expedition. He was a Command Pilot and rated in over a dozen aircraft.

He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the United States Air Force in 1965. He was and Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and active in church programs.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Augusta; daughter, Candice Crouch and by three brothers Dean, Richard and Eugene. He is survived by sons Frederick and Michael and by brothers Harold and Vaughan and sisters Elaine Roberts, Beverly Ferrante and Marsha Rackham.

There will be a Visitation 5-7:00 pm, 18 February at Hazen & Jaeger Valley Funeral Home in Spokane Valley, WA.

The funeral will be at 1:00 pm, 22 February at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 1941 N. Main, Farmington, Utah with a viewing from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm prior to services.

Interment will be at the Farmington Cemetery, following the funeral.