W. Dewey Perry, Jr.

William Dewey Perry, Jr. (Dewey Jr.), 90, of Hertford, NC, passed away on Wednesday, July 9, 2014 at Chowan River Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Edenton. Mr. Perry was born in Perquimans County on November 5, 1923, and was the son of the late William Dewey, Sr. and Sadie Chappell Perry. A veteran of World War II, he served in the Merchant Marines under the direction of the United States Coast Guard. Following his honorable discharge, he returned to Perquimans County to farm. Along with farming and raising hogs, he also logged to supplement his income. In 1957 his log truck was hit by an oncoming train as he was crossing tracks going to a lumber yard in Elizabeth City. Fortunately, he suffered only broken ribs and many bruises and was able to return to his life's work. Working at Greenfield Plantation for 26 years, he also co-owned and operated Perry's Produce, and in the early 1950s he custom harvested farmer's crops, which led to many new and life-long friendships in the Rocky Hock community of Chowan County. A member of Bethel Baptist Church, he had served as a deacon and secretary of Sunday School. A member of the Bethel Volunteer Fire Dept. and a charter member of the Bethel Ruritan Club, he served as the Bethel community representative on the Perquimans County ASCS Committee and was appointed to the Chowan-Perquimans Farmers Home Administration. He was a generous man. On one occasion the local Boy Scouts were going on a camping trip but the front tires on the church bus they were using were not in the best of shape. He parked his farm truck, took the tires off, put them on the bus, and off the scouts went on their camping trip. A mentor to the Boy Scouts, he helped his son David with his Eagle Scout project, which included clearing the lot for the building of the Snug Harbor Community Church. Another time when taking firewood to a lady in the fall, he noticed her wood stove had rusted through the side, so he went to town and bought her a new one. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Clara White Perry, who died just three weeks prior on June 18th. Surviving are his sons, Donald E. Perry and wife Lei Lei Bing of Charlotte, Dr. Douglas W. Perry and wife Cherie of Hertford, and David B. Perry and wife Debbie of Edenton; grandchildren, Meredith E. Perry, Amanda K. Perry, and William J. Perry, all of Charlotte; step-grandchildren, Bryan C. Belch, Nicholas R. Belch, and Courtney "Ali" Belch, and step-great-grandson, Damien C. Belch, all of Edenton. A gathering for friends and family will be held Saturday, July 19th, from 3 to 5 p.m. in Miller Funeral Home & Crematory, 735 Virginia Road, Edenton. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Perquimans County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 191, Hertford, NC 27944 Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.