John Perry
John Dowd Perry, 91, of Chattanooga, passed away on Monday, October 31, 2022, in a local hospital.
Born on Aug. 11, 1931, in Montgomery, Al., to the late Collin Wade and Bessie Dowd Perry, he was preceded in death by brothers, Wade Perry and Tom Perry; and sister, Elizabeth Perry Lawson.
John graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery and later from Howard College (now Samford University) in Birmingham.
He served two years in the Navy aboard the U.S. Coucal, a submarine rescue ship serving as the ships Yeoman to the Captain.
He worked at Moore-Handley Hardware in Birmingham, then as a salesman in Gadsden, Al. Later he was manager of Patrick Lumber Company in Scottsboro, Al.
While in Scottsboro he was active in Civitan and served as president and later as Lieutenant Governor of Civitan, Intern Alabama District North.
John moved to Chattanooga in 1968 to open a branch of Tennessee Building Products and served as a vice president and general manager there for 28 years.
Several years after his retirement he became assistant to the pastor at Brainerd Presbyterian Church.
He was ordained a deacon at Scottsboro Cumberland Presbyterian Church and later ordained as an elder and deacon at Brainerd Presbyterian Church and later named a deacon emeritus. He also served as a deacon at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga.
He served as treasurer of Presbytery of the Southeast for 18 years.
John is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lenora N. Perry; daughter, Melanie Perry (Tim) Gass; granddaughter, Perri Mansfield; two step-granddaughters, Katie and Rachael Gass; great-granddaughter, Penelope Bewley; several nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held on Thursday, Nov. 3, at 2:30 p.m. at the Chattanooga National Cemetery with Dr. Jonathan Swartz, Rev. Dan Gilchrist, and Rev. Dane Deathridge officiating.
You may share condolences to the family at www.heritagechattanooga.com
Memorial contributions may be made to Brainerd Presbyterian Church, 1624 Jenkins Road, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.
The family will receive friends Thursday from 12-2 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Road.