Keith Eugene Perkins, 61, of Kulpmont, formerly of Fenelton, a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle, passed into eternal rest with our Lord Father on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.
Keith was born in Butler on February 24, 1958. He was the son of the late John H. and Barbara Curtis Perkins. He graduated from Butler Senior High School in 1977. Keith then enlisted in the United States Air Force and served his country from 1981 until 1985. Keith married the love of his life, Rita, on April 2, 1984. He had lived in the Harrisburg, Lebanon, and Kulpmont areas most of his life. He worked as an air traffic control maintenance personnel at Fort Indiantown Gap and retired in 2014. Keith had a passion for air craft and could always be caught looking to the skies when he heard something flying above. He was very active member of Kulpmont First United Methodist Church, where he was studying to becoming a pastor. His love for his family could be seen by all who knew him. He was very involved in the lives of his children and grandchildren. If they needed anything, he would drop what he was doing and be there for them.
He is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Rita Perkins; his three daughters, Rosanna Zettlemoyer and her husband, Morris, Kathryn Derr, and Elizabeth Lecher and her husband, Edward; eight grandchildren, Dylon, Madison, Joseph, Chase, Logan, and John, Herbert and Arianna, whom he raised; four sisters, Diria “Dee” Swager and her husband, Allan, Barbara Barnhart and her husband Rev. Floyd, Jo Donaldson and her husband, Gerald , and Kimberly Hamilton; a brother, Dana Perkins and his wife, Sally, as well as a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Keith was preceded in death by his loving parents, John and Barbara Curtis Perkins.
Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home of Chicora, 339 Chicora Fenelton Rd., Chicora, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Saturday. A funeral service will follow from the funeral home at 1:00 p.m. with Keith’s nephew, the Rev. Matthew Perkins, a Free Methodist pastor and Keith’s brother-in-law, the Rev. Floyd Barnhart, a United Methodist pastor, co-officiating. Military honors will be accorded by the Chicora, Bradys’ Bend and East Brady American Legion Posts. Memorial contributions may be made to Hile Funeral Home, PO Box 262, Chicora, PA 16025. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.hilefh.com.