K-231-8

Obituary

Johnnie Lee Perkins was born on August 17, 1937 in Bakersfield,
California. Johnnie was the second of 3 sons born to Henry and Mae
Perkins. He was a long time member of the First Southern Baptist Church
in Shafter. He was in the Navy from 1954 to 1958. and he was very
proud to be stationed on the Hornet as she had launched the 1942
Doolittle Raid during World War II. He was able to take a tour of the
Hornet Museum while she sits in dry dock in Alameda, which he, his
brother… and son enjoyed very much.

After serving in the military, he came home and married Betty Louise
Grindstaff of Bakersfield on 08-02-58. They were married for 45 1/2
years. They had their son Scott in 1960, and daughter Brenda in 1962.
Johnnie was employed by the University of California, Davis at the
Cotton Research Station. and he attained the title of Superintendent
until his retirement in October, 1992.

Family members that have preceded him in death were his father, Henry
in May, 1978, wife Betty in May, 2004, his mother Mae in June, 2014,
and his elder brother Billie in April, 2018.

Surviving family members are his second wife, Letha, his youngest
brother Bobby, son Scott and his wife Tia, daughter Brenda and her
husband Rex. He also has 6 grandchildren, Johnnie, Jason, Karissa,
Trever, Travis and Cody. He has 7 great-grandchildren, Evan, Natalie,
Chance, Jaxson, Kaylee, Lillie and Trinity, and numerous nieces and
nephews.

Funeral services were held at First Southern Baptist Church in
Shafter on 10-05-18 at 11:00am with internment that followed at Shafter
Memorial Cemetery. As a veteran, he was honored with a 21 gun salute
and Taps