James Alvin "Jim" Perkins

YOUNGSTOWN - James Alvin “Jim” Perkins, 79, went to Heaven to be with the Lord,  on Sunday, July 24, 2016.

Jim, known fondly by his family as “Sonny,” was born in East Liverpool on April 7, 1937, a son of the late James and Dorothy Perkins.

He graduated from East Liverpool High School in 1956, where he proudly played as a Potter on the only undefeated football team in the school’s history, and where he earned the nickname of “Scooter.”

Jim was a Specialist in the United States Army, where he served as cryptographer based in Fort Bliss, Texas.

Jim rose through the ranks at Commercial Intertech from a computer room operator to the Director of IT Operations, specializing in Oracle manufacturing programming and implementations. He retired in 1998 after 30 years of service with the company.

He was an avid, accomplished bowler throughout his life carrying a 200-plus average. He was a tireless and long-suffering Cleveland sports fan, faithfully following the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians. He enjoyed coaching three of his daughters in softball in the Mill Creek Softball League. 

Jim married Sondra Jean Hall on Feb. 8, 1966, and the couple recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. 

Besides his wife, Jim leaves four daughters, Diane (Walter) Malys, Sherri (Tony) Walden, Julie (Steven) Shuttleworth and Michelle Smith; 10 grandchildren, Rachel (Chad) McKinney, Sarah (Jared) Miller, Christy (Johnny) Hochstetler, Trey and Ashley Walden, Nathan and Alexandra Shuttleworth, Alec, Dane, and Connor Smith; a great-grandson, Andrew Isaac McKinney; sisters, Carol Jean McCune and Jackie Hardy; and brother, Richard Perkins. 

He was preceded in death by sisters, Barbara Reynolds and Judy Perkins.

Family and friends may call from noon to 2 p.m., Saturday, July 30, at Kinnick Funeral Home, 477 N. Meridian Rd., Youngstown, where funeral services with military honors will follow at 2 p.m.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the family to help fund a STABLE Account for the benefit of Jim’s grandchildren, Alexandra and Connor, for their future care.