Howard Franklin Perkins

Howard Franklin Perkins, 84, U S Army Veteran, of Carrollton, Texas, passed away on August 4, 2109 as a result of a traumatic brain injury. Howard was born June 8, 1935 in Wichita Falls, Texas to Ernest and Grace Mae (Lipe) Perkins. From the beginning he loved and had an affinity for baseball gaining notoriety in his hometown, and the surrounding area, as a standout pitcher and outfielder. He attended Wichita Falls High School where his innate intelligence made him an excellent student. After graduation in 1953 he spent four years in the US Army stationed in Germany. Upon his return to Texas he enrolled at the North Texas State College where he completed his degree in accounting in just three years on the GI Bill. He would later complete the rare feat of passing all parts of the CPA exam on his first attempt. He met and married Barbara High in 1964. He would become the immediate head of a family of four with two young daughters Vicki and Christi coming in the bargain. He would love them and raise them as his own and they were at his bedside as he passed. Two sons would complete his family with the birth of John (Jack) in 1966 and Chad in 1970. While he had a knack for mastering many skills quickly, his true calling was as a father. He spent the first 30 years of his career as an analyst for Mobil Corporation in their Pipeline division where he was relied upon heavily for his sound judgement. Those early years saw him move his family from Texas to Alaska to California and back again on pipeline construction projects that would link the western states to the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay. After a decade long semi-retirement where he partnered with his wife in the antique business, he joined UT Southwestern Medical School in the department of Post Award Administration where, despite his age, he was quickly promoted to lead the department. He finally retired in 2014. He is still fondly remembered by those with whom he worked there. He will be truly missed by those who knew him both personally and professionally for his natural ability to form deep, long term friendships quickly, his playful nature and sense of humor, his sweet nature and gentleness that made him a magnet for children and animals, his perfect work ethic, his need to, without regard for his personal safety and comfort, stop and render assistance, his need for accuracy, and his uncanny ability to solve even the most complex problems. Howard was preceded in death by his sister:  Blanche Gibbs; brothers:  E. J. Perkins and Roy Perkins; brother in law:  Nat Gibbs and nephews:  Garland Gibbs and Benjamin Gibbs. He is survived by his wife:  Barbara Joyce (High) Perkins; children:  Vicki Frances Perkins, Christi Perkins Neathery, John Howard "Jack" Perkins and Chad Franklin Perkins; son in law:  William B. Neathery; daughters in law:  Dr. Margaret S. Pearle and Tonya Perkins; grandchildren:  Jeffery Lee Settle, Bradley Joseph Neathery, Hope Morgan Perkins and Abbe Leah Perkins Correll; great grandchildren:  Graham and Harper Neathery and Tanner and Cooper Correll; nieces and nephews:  Nat Paul Gibbs, Gary, Jimmy and Michael Perkins, Terry and Jeff Hoover, Renee Henvey, Ronnie and Kelly High, Denise Gordon, Jeff and Jason Gibbs, Natalie Gibbs Croy and Matthew Gibbs. There will be a family visitation/reception at 10:00 A.M. with a Memorial Service following at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, August 8, 2019 at Preston Road Church of Christ, 6409 Preston Rd., Dallas, TX 75205.