John Eugene "Gene" Perry, 91, of Cumberland Crossings in Carlisle, PA died Sept. 18, 2025, surrounded by loving family and caregivers.

Born July 25, 1934, in Lock Haven, he was the son of the late John F. "Jack" Perry and Winifred A. (Ward) Perry and the beloved husband of Audrey (Freeberg) Perry, who died in May 2025.

Growing up in Pennsylvania's Clinton County, his many adventures with bicycles, cars, hunting and woodcraft provided him with happy memories and tall tales throughout his lifetime.  He attended St. Joseph's grade school for several years then graduated from the Renovo High School as a member of the class of 1952.  He remained in touch with many of his high school classmates and facilitated/hosted numerous reunions with them over the years.

During high school, he worked in his father's lumberyard.  Starting in 1952, he served in the U.S. Navy as an Aerographers Mate during the Korean War, stationed in Norfolk, VA.  It was during this time he developed his interest in weather, cloud formations, and all things meteorological.  He graduated from Penn State University in 1959 with a degree in Business Management.

His career included working as a kitchen designer for the Lewistown Lumber Company, as a co-founder of the Penn Central Personnel Service in State College, followed by a federal civil service career as a personnel specialist with the U.S. Army at Edgewood Arsenal.  His subsequent Army assignments took him to Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Fort Ritchie, and then in 1974, to the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks as the Civilian Personnel Officer.  From 1982 to 1985 he accepted a three-year assignment at Fort Richardson in Anchorage with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

In Alaska, he became a full-fledged garage and yard sale entrepreneur, buying, selling and trading anything from coins to camper vans.  He also began amassing his once huge collection of vinyl record albums, hunted caribou, and learned the challenges of gold mining after staking his first gold claim.  He returned to the Army War College until his 1994 retirement.

He married his school sweetheart, Audrey B. (Freeburg) Perry, in 1956.  She was his steadfast and devoted partner in all their enterprises including child rearing, restoring and maintaining their 250-year-old stone farmhouse on Whistlewind Farm near Newville, and crop and livestock farming.

After his retirement, he delved deeper into lumbering, sawmill operation, winemaking, restoring antique tools and cast-iron cookware, and operating a successful antique business.  Working on the farm and reading history were his recreational outlets.  He did not hesitate to seek and accept all the help he could get and felt blessed with the many, many times he received lots of it from family, neighbors, and friends.

Together for 69 years before she died, Gene and Audrey raised six children.  He taught them many things including how to ride a bicycle, get up and dust themselves off after a fall, change a tire, work hard, do your best, be thrifty, take care of animals, maintain property, and how to be kind to others.  He was extremely proud of his children's achievements, especially their speaking and writing talents.

He is lovingly remembered by his surviving children, Barbara Lander (Dan Johnson) of Ketchikan, AK; Cynthia K. Perry (PJ Ventura) of Washington, DC;  Patricia E. Gilmore (Dan) of Clarksville, TN,  David N. Perry (John Smoker) of Harrisburg, and Carol A. Kelkis (Michael) of York; and his grandchildren and great grandchildren Jeffery Lander, Jason Gilmore (Christina), Benjamin Kelkis, Madison Kelkis, Allison Lander, Christopher Lander, and Kai Gilmore.  He is also survived by a sister, Sharon E. Ford, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his wife Audrey and son John D. Perry.

Friends will be received at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 30, for a viewing in the narthex of St. Patrick's Catholic Church at 85 Marsh Drive in Carlisle, PA.  A Mass of Christian burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. in the church.  Burial will be private.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. Patrick's Catholic Church or to a charity of your choosing. www.EwingBrothers.com