Estes Sherwood Perkins was born on Feb. 5, 1918, at his parents’ farm in rural Franklin County, Mo., and was the only child of the Rev. Estes Steel and Beryl Elliott Perkins. He died on Thursday, March 5, 2015, at the age of 97.
Sherwood (or Perk to many) graduated from Warrenton Junior College and taught grades one through 12 in a one-room schoolhouse until he volunteered for service in the United States Army in 1941. After serving as a drill instructor at Camp Roberts, Calif., and Fort Chaffee, he shipped out to join General George Patton’s armored tank division of the armored infantry in Europe. Following World War II, he graduated from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy and, in 1947, moved his family to El Dorado, where he went to work as a registered pharmacist at the El Dorado Pharmacy and where, as an owner, he would close the business when he retired in 1987.
He was a kind, funny and intensely loyal man. He was very active in the community with youth baseball, Boy Scouts and church activities while pursuing his love of fishing and any game involving a deck of cards.
He was predeceased by his parents; his wife of 66 years, Evelyn and his son, John Sherwood.
He is survived by his daughter, Sherry Perkins Bartley of Little Rock; his grandson, Joseph Kirby Mahony III (fiancé Theda), of Maumelle; his great-grandchildren, Jordan Kristine Mahony of Olive Branch, Miss., Alexandra Armstrong Mahony Howell (Michael), and Joseph Kirby Mahony IV, of Little Rock and a great-great-grandson, Benjamin Royal Howell, also of Little Rock.
Visitation will be from 4 until 6 p.m. on Friday, March 13, at Young’s Funeral Directors in El Dorado.
Chapel service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 14, also at Young’s, with the Rev. Brian Trostle officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Arlington Cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers will be the Theater Bible Class, Round Table at Champagnolle Landing, the Saturday Breakfast Bunch, Ms. Ellen Jackson and Mrs. Clevester Williams.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Champagnolle Landing, 910 E. Fourth St., El Dorado, AR 71730; or First Baptist Church of El Dorado, 200 W. Main, El Dorado, AR 71730.
An online guest registry will be available at www.youngsfuneralhome.com.