Russell Dean

Perkins

Russell Dean Perkins, age 83, passed away on Monday, November 9, 2026, at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital in Columbia, Missouri.

He was born on Tuesday, December 22, 1942, in Columbia, Missouri, the son of Alfred and Edna (Bradshaw) Perkins.

Russell was in the Air Force from February 1961 to August of 1962. He was trained in San Antonio, TX and stationed at Beale AFB in Northern California.

He had various jobs, the most significant was with the Missouri Pacific Railroad, which is now Union Pacific. He retired from there after he was injured. After retirement he still loved to tinker with broken lawn mowers and work around his flowers. He loved wildlife and would feed stray cats and the baby groundhogs that would hide under his front porch in the spring.

He loved flowers of all kinds, as reflected in his colorful front yard. He attended church at Calvary Baptist Church in Knob Noster, MO. His favorite times were spent visiting with family and taking long afternoon drives through the countryside. Russell also loved going fishing and eating catfish.

Russell is survived by his loving wife, Lillie Perkins; two daughters, Angela (Earl) Wedge and Tyneisha (Jason) Perkins-Bennett; five sons, Trevor (Lisa) Perkins, Aaron Perkins, Doug Perkins, Willie (Missy) Perkins and Deiondra Perkins; three brothers, James Perkins, Terry (Dorothy) Perkins and Timothy Perkins; along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Lester Perkins and Darryl Perkins, and four sisters, Beatrice Henry, Melba Bracher, Eleanor Gentor and Brenda Henry.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., at the Calvary Baptist Church located in Knob Noster, Missouri, with a fellowship to follow.