Richard W. Perdue
May 7, 1935 — July 31, 2013
Richard W. Perdue
Richard Walter Perdue, husband, father, grandfather, creator and taster of all foods, insatiable reader, tinkerer, and bottomless well of knowledge passed away on Wednesday night, the 31st of July. He was 78 years old.
Born in the midst of the Great Depression in Manchester, NH on May 7,1935, he learned quickly the sense of humor needed to carry him through a long life. With his Scottish grandmother saying "Aye, that tasted gude, I tink I'll 'ave a'nuther" after her first nip of brandy in the evening, to his mother's quick wit and his grandfather's magnanimous heart, Dickie, as he was called by his grandfather and family, could make anyone feel better. He would chat with everyone, start conversations in checkout lines, and always loved a good discussion. He may also have been a bit of a flirt.
His family and friends knew well his storytelling, including Billy Bob Jim Joe, the family's cousin from the south, cousin Jean-Pierre from the French countryside, the unnamed Irish cousin from Dublin, all perfectly accented, who appeared whenever there was a party or sometimes for no reason at all. Dick had an active and entertaining imagination.
A foodie at heart and for life, he was the best non-pedigreed chef, knowing how to use all utensils including marrow spoons and cake breakers, and how any ingredient would taste with all other ingredients. Some of his favorites were saltines with chocolate pudding, learning to drink Scotch with milk, creamy mashed potatoes, soups, and anything from anywhere he might have heard about. Asked once what his least favorite food was and after a half hour of deep thought, he came back with "I don't care that much for rattlesnake."
He followed one of his life-long friends into the army at nineteen in 1955, first driving a general around in a jeep while in Germany and always entertaining as part of the 7th Army Symphony Orchestra and Soldier Show Company. Honorably discharged, he followed his service with a stint as a Marine reservist and then as a Navy reservist, with three distinct boot camps. With another of his life-long friends, Richie, he stole a pack of cigars when they were young, smoked the whole lot, and when confronted by his mother, Richie blamed it on Dick. Dick repaid Richie by being his friend for over six decades.
Dick could attempt to fix anything – usually successfully. He was also successful, when the tinkering wasn't going according to plan, in teaching his children how to swear. He held jobs from furniture salesman to owner of "The House of Natural Things" in the mountains of Westwood CA to the Computer Operations and Data Control Supervisor for a burgeoning computerized Xerox. Dick had the spirit of a mountain man and homesteader and the soul of a poet, writing throughout his schooling years until finally wooing his wife Pamela with love poems.
He was preceded into the "next big adventure," as Dick put it, by his father, Walter Perdue, his mother, Shirley Parsons Perdue, his former wife Katherine Meakin Perdue, and several very dear friends.. Surviving him are his wife of 34 years, Pamela Owen Perdue of Concord, his daughters Sidney Kaylor of Weare, Margaret Perdue and Kimberly Poggi both of Westwood California, sons Christopher Perdue of Smyrna Georgia, Seth Perdue Terramane of Belmont Massachusetts, and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is also survived by his closest friend, Richie Horne of Manchester.
A special thank you to Kelley, "Sarge" and Keri at Pleasant View Center where he was one of the "favorite kids on the block" for their loving care and their patience at laughing at Dick's jokes. They are angels on earth along with many of the other staff at Pleasant View.
A Celebration of Life and reception will be held at Bow Mills United Methodist Church, 505 South Street, Bow NH on Friday August 30, 2013 at 11:00 AM. Memorial contributions in Dick's name may be made to the Concord-Merrimack County SPCA, 130 Washington Street, Penacook NH 03303 or Friends of Forgotten Children, 224 Bog Road, Concord NH 03303.
Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium is assisting the family with arrangements. To view an online memorial please go to www.phaneuf.net
Born in the midst of the Great Depression in Manchester, NH on May 7,1935, he learned quickly the sense of humor needed to carry him through a long life. With his Scottish grandmother saying "Aye, that tasted gude, I tink I'll 'ave a'nuther" after her first nip of brandy in the evening, to his mother's quick wit and his grandfather's magnanimous heart, Dickie, as he was called by his grandfather and family, could make anyone feel better. He would chat with everyone, start conversations in checkout lines, and always loved a good discussion. He may also have been a bit of a flirt.
His family and friends knew well his storytelling, including Billy Bob Jim Joe, the family's cousin from the south, cousin Jean-Pierre from the French countryside, the unnamed Irish cousin from Dublin, all perfectly accented, who appeared whenever there was a party or sometimes for no reason at all. Dick had an active and entertaining imagination.
A foodie at heart and for life, he was the best non-pedigreed chef, knowing how to use all utensils including marrow spoons and cake breakers, and how any ingredient would taste with all other ingredients. Some of his favorites were saltines with chocolate pudding, learning to drink Scotch with milk, creamy mashed potatoes, soups, and anything from anywhere he might have heard about. Asked once what his least favorite food was and after a half hour of deep thought, he came back with "I don't care that much for rattlesnake."
He followed one of his life-long friends into the army at nineteen in 1955, first driving a general around in a jeep while in Germany and always entertaining as part of the 7th Army Symphony Orchestra and Soldier Show Company. Honorably discharged, he followed his service with a stint as a Marine reservist and then as a Navy reservist, with three distinct boot camps. With another of his life-long friends, Richie, he stole a pack of cigars when they were young, smoked the whole lot, and when confronted by his mother, Richie blamed it on Dick. Dick repaid Richie by being his friend for over six decades.
Dick could attempt to fix anything – usually successfully. He was also successful, when the tinkering wasn't going according to plan, in teaching his children how to swear. He held jobs from furniture salesman to owner of "The House of Natural Things" in the mountains of Westwood CA to the Computer Operations and Data Control Supervisor for a burgeoning computerized Xerox. Dick had the spirit of a mountain man and homesteader and the soul of a poet, writing throughout his schooling years until finally wooing his wife Pamela with love poems.
He was preceded into the "next big adventure," as Dick put it, by his father, Walter Perdue, his mother, Shirley Parsons Perdue, his former wife Katherine Meakin Perdue, and several very dear friends.. Surviving him are his wife of 34 years, Pamela Owen Perdue of Concord, his daughters Sidney Kaylor of Weare, Margaret Perdue and Kimberly Poggi both of Westwood California, sons Christopher Perdue of Smyrna Georgia, Seth Perdue Terramane of Belmont Massachusetts, and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is also survived by his closest friend, Richie Horne of Manchester.
A special thank you to Kelley, "Sarge" and Keri at Pleasant View Center where he was one of the "favorite kids on the block" for their loving care and their patience at laughing at Dick's jokes. They are angels on earth along with many of the other staff at Pleasant View.
A Celebration of Life and reception will be held at Bow Mills United Methodist Church, 505 South Street, Bow NH on Friday August 30, 2013 at 11:00 AM. Memorial contributions in Dick's name may be made to the Concord-Merrimack County SPCA, 130 Washington Street, Penacook NH 03303 or Friends of Forgotten Children, 224 Bog Road, Concord NH 03303.
Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium is assisting the family with arrangements. To view an online memorial please go to www.phaneuf.net
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard W. Perdue, please visit our flower store.
Past Services
Celebration of Life
Friday, August 30, 2013
Starts at 11:00 am
Bow Mills United Methodist Church
Guestbook
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