Mr. Kenneth Wray Perkins' Obituary
Kenneth Wray Perkins, 77, of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at his home. Born September 9, 1944, in Seminole, Oklahoma, he was the son of the late William W. Perkins and Marjorie Nell Rutherford Perkins.
Ken was a 1962 graduate of Whitehaven High School in Memphis, TN where he was a fixture in the Memphis garage band scene as a member of Jimmy Day and the Knights with high school friends Jimmy Day and John Robinette where he was the group’s bass singer. He even sang bass/background vocals on The Embers featuring Bill Browder’s song “Little Girl Next Door.” Browder would go on to become TG Sheppard.
Ken served his country proudly in the United States Army as a Private from July 17, 1967 until his Honorable Discharge on April 29, 1971. He was always proud to be a Military Veteran. Prior to being drafted into the Military, he began what would be a 32 year career with South Central Bell/AT&T in 1964 before retiring in 1996. It was during that career that he met so many incredibly wonderful co-workers that remained his friends until his passing.
Ken graduated college with a BBA from Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis) in 1974. He managed that while working for the phone company, being married and becoming a parent.
During Ken’s life, he was a member of the Franklin Optimist Club which helped operate youth sports in Franklin for many years. Ken was a fixture at Jim Warren Park with so many other great men and women in the community that all made an unbelievable impact on boys and girls growing up in Franklin/Williamson County in the late 70’s through the early 90’s. He was a part of the transition into what is now the Franklin Baseball Club. He then went on to help establish the Worth and Brentwood Bulldogs travel baseball organization that sent numerous young men on to attend college to play baseball with some even going on to play professionally.
Ken loved music, Memphis Tiger basketball and football, the Tennessee Titans, the St. Louis Cardinals and anything that had to do with his City of Nashville.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister Cheryl Perkins.
He is survived by his loving wife Deborah White Perkins; brother Terry Perkins; daughter Robyn Perkins; sons Cris (Wife Sharon) Perkins and Erin Perkins; stepchildren Erika Mooningham and Brad Hancock; He also is survived by his grandchildren Ellie and Brady Richard (from his daughter Robyn); Katie and Nick Perkins (from his son Cris); Jacob and Lee William Perkins (from his son Erin); Andie Thomas and Presley Mooningham (from his step daughter Erika); Abigail Hancock (from his step son Brad); and Loren Hancock (from his daughter in law Connie Hancock).
A visitation will be held at Spring Hill Funeral Home in Nashville on Thursday, July 14 from 4 p.m. 8 p.m. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will take place at Noon on Friday, July 15 at Noon. Burial accompanied by military honors will follow in the Historic Spring Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust at https://cst.dav.org.
Arrangements entrusted to Spring Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery, 5110 Gallatin Road, Nashville, TN 37216. “Where Nashville Comes to Remember.”
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