Title	Mr.
Last Name	Perry
First Name	Frank
Middle Name	J.
Maiden Name
Nick Name	Bo
Place of Birth	New London, CT
Date of Birth	1925/03/09
Place of Death
Date of Death	2010-01-09
Publication	Eastern Gazette iss Jan 16-22,2010 pg 6
Obituary	FRANK J. PERRY BAR HARBOR and DEXTER Frank Joesph Perry nicknamed “Bo”, 84 died peacefully January 8,2010. Frank was born in New London CT on March 9, 1925, the eldest son of 16 children and one step-brother. After graduating from New London High School, Frank went into the US Army Air Corps during World War II, and he became a belly gunner on a B24J Liberator Bomber. Frank and the crew of Bomber #68 made many flights into German held territories on bombing missions. On one mission, Frank and the bombardier of the plane had to go out on the “catwalk” in the open bomb bay and kick free a stuck bomb so the flight could make a safe landing at the base. On Frank’s 20th birthday, March 9th, 1945, his plane went down in Zarda,Yugoslavia. The crew and plane were found at the same time the Air Force sent out the “missing in action” letter to his mother. Frank was awarded the prestigious Army Air Force Air Medal as well as other service awards. The young sergeant was then stationed at Dow Air Force base where he met the love of his life, .Helmi Paakki, on a blind date. They were married in September 1949, and they settled in Pittsfield Maine. Frank was a man of many talents and worked hard all his life. He loved his Coke Cola and when he got a job driving a Pepsi truck he had to hide his passion for Coke — eventually he left the job to drive an oil truck. Then Frank became a hand stitcher for Dexter Shoe Company. Frank’s greatest accomplishment was starting the Dexter Shoe Credit Union which eventually became the Dexter Regional Federal Credit Union - all this with Helmi at his side. He loved being àutdoors hunting, fishing, and especially playing golf with his buddies. There ws always activity at the Perry’s household with friends young and old around the pool table where he picked up the nick name of “Fingers at the Rail”. Frank is survived by his three children, Karen Perry and her partner Stephen Keiser, Frank Perry and Mark Perry; their four grandchildren: Amanda Stitham and her husband Erich, Morgan Perrç Alex Perry and Em Perry; four great grandchildren: Joshua Perr Julia and Nicholas Stitham and newly arrived Bralen Ricker. He is survived by his brothers Robert Perry, Herbert Perry, James Perry William Perry, his sisters Helena Ilvento, Ann Winn, Alice Anderson, Gail Havey, and Marcella McEwen. Frank is predeceased by his loving wife Helmi, his step brother Albert Perr sisters Marie Lott, Francis Branzell and Columbia Hart. Their will be a celebration of Frank & Helmi’s life at a later date. The family would like to thank the staff of Birch Bay Village for. all their compassion and care of their beloved Father. In lieu of flowers, donations may be givezi to the Helmi & Frank Perry Scholarship Fund at the Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 233, Dexter, ME, 04930. Arrangements by Jordan Fernald, 48 Eden St., Bar Harbor. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.