Bobby Perry

Bob Perry was born a “leap year baby” on Monday February 29, 1932 in Tulsa, Oklahoma the son of Milton and Mamie (Smith) Perry. He passed from this life on Thursday, June 11, 2020 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was 88 years of age. Bob was one of six children born to Milton and Mamie, who raised a close-knit family during the Great Depression. Bob was proud of his Broken Arrow roots. One of his first jobs was as a shoeshine boy at a business on Main Street. He attended Broken Arrow schools and graduated there as the class Vice President in 1950. He excelled in football and earned a scholarship to Bacone Jr. College in Muskogee. His 1952 team traveled by train to Pasadena, California and won a national championship at the Junior College Rose Bowl. He married his high school sweetheart, Virginia Lee Fulps on September 15, 1951 in Van Buren, Arkansas and was married 63 years before her passing in 2014. They raised three children, Bobby, Sandy, and Chuck, and were very proud of each one of them. He was also close with his mother, brothers and sisters and really looked forward to family get-togethers. After two years of college, Bob began his career working at McDonnell Douglas before moving over to sales for the Reed’s Candy Company. Ultimately, he found a home with the Lorillard Tobacco Company where he spent over 30 years working as a Sales Representative. He was transferred for a short two years to New Orleans, but soon thereafter moved his family back home to Broken Arrow. As the kids grew up, Bob spent many years coaching their sports teams and supporting their many endeavors. He loved going out to eat with Virginia and they vacationed many years in Branson with his kids and grandkids at Silver Dollar City. He enjoyed listening to music in Branson and also spent many weekends traveling to watch gospel music groups in the Tulsa and Arkansas areas. The work he put into his yard was second to none and was the envy of the neighborhood. The house in Oak Crest addition saw him mowing every other day with a hand push reel mower to create an immaculate green lawn. He continued his own athletic endeavors as an avid jogger in the 1980’s along with buying season tickets to the Tulsa Roughnecks Soccer team at Skelly Stadium. He led his family to be active at Fellowship Christian Church in Broken Arrow for many years where he served on the board, sang in the choir, and helped Virginia lead youth group. His 1950 BA graduating class stayed tight over the years and both Bob and Virginia always looked forward to their monthly dinners to reminisce about the good old days. As he slowed down these past few years, he enjoyed watching westerns on TV or catching an episode of the moonshiners or laughing along to Impractical Jokers. As the grandkids grew, he made every attempt to go watch their many athletic and school events. He loved his Lord, his wife, his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He leaves a legacy for them to follow in his footsteps. Bob is survived by: Son, Chuck Perry and wife, Monaca, of Broken Arrow Grandchildren: Jessi, Josh, Matt, Chase, Abrielle, and Anna 5 Great-Grandchildren Brother, Don Perry of Sapulpa Sisters, Ruth Ann Cooper of Tulsa and Dana Blair of Broken Arrow Bob was preceded in death by: his Parents, Wife: Virginia Lee (Fulps) Perry, Son: Bobby Clyde Perry, Daughter: Sandra (Hill) Allphin, Brothers: Bill Perry and Glen Perry and Grandson: Michael (Stoney) Milliger

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Bobby Perry

February 29, 1932 - June 11, 2020