Robert Charles ‘Bob’ Perry

SAN ANTONIO Robert Charles "Bob" Perry died peacefully, surrounded by family, Wednesday evening at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio.

Mr. Perry, who was 84, was married 63 years to Alla Virginia Sparkman Perry and the father of four sons.

Mr. Perry was born May 4, 1924, in Columbus, Ohio, to Ralph and Edna Perry. He grew up in Columbus and attended schools there. After the breakout of World War II, he joined the Navy in 1942. Later, while training in the Navy in Norman, Okla., he met Virginia Sparkman at a dance. At the time, she recalls telling her roommate, "That's the man I'm going to marry." They were married July 12, 1945. They were stationed in San Diego and the Los Angeles area after their marriage. Mr. Perry was discharged from the Navy on Dec. 9, 1945.

The couple returned to Oklahoma, enrolling at the University of Oklahoma where they received their degrees. He studied pharmacy and received his degree in 1949, working various jobs (including manager of the Sooner Theater) while attending school. After college, Mr. Perry worked as a pharmacist in Tulsa and Dewey, Okla., before the family moved to Texas in 1953, first living in Wichita Falls where he managed English Pharmacy. In 1957, they and their four boys moved to Odessa where for many years he was the Merck pharmaceutical representative for most of Far West Texas. During that time he traveled from Odessa to Alpine to Big Spring and was well known to every doctor, nurse, pharmacist and hospital administrator in West Texas.

In Odessa, Bob and Virginia raised four boys, who all attended Permian High School. Bob was a dedicated fan of Permian football and had many state championships to his credit. In 1979, Bob and Virginia moved to Tulsa and then on to McKinney, Texas, in 1990, while Bob was concluding his service with Merck. In retirement, they moved to San Antonio, where they had spent the past 7 years. Bob truly enjoyed retirement, focusing on grandchildren and driving his Airstream to University of Oklahoma football games.

He was the epitome of the true OU Sooner fan, the very best there was. Shortly after he retired, Bob was inducted into the Oklahoma Pharmacy Hall of Fame.

Survivors include his wife, Virginia; his sons and their wives: Phil and Neleatha Perry of San Antonio, Jim and Wanda Perry of Lumberton, David and Rosie Perry of Columbus, Ohio and Mike and Cindy Perry of Alpine; and six grandchildren, Jackie Perry of Columbus, Trisha Gately and husband, Matt of Norman, Oklahoma, Robbie Perry, Zach Perry and Nick Perry, all of San Antonio, Jessica Latino of Lumberton, Texas; and three great-grandchildren, Emily, Alise and Kate Latino.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 4, 2008 at Porter Loring Mortuary North with Pastor Elmer Hembree officiating. Interment will follow in Hill Country Memorial Gardens.

You are invited to sign the Guestbook at www.porterloring.com

Arrangements with Porter Loring Mortuary North, 2102 N. Loop 1604 E. San Antonio, Texas 78232 (210) 495-8221.