Don Thomas Perkinson was born on May 14th, 1942, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was the oldest child of David and Eula Perkinson.
He attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and a minor in Math. In 1965, he married Linda Janice “Jan” Ownbey and they moved to Nashville where Don attended Vanderbilt University, earning a Master’s Degree in Plasma Physics.
Don and Jan moved to Huntsville, Alabama in 1966 and Don began his career at NASA as a Preliminary Design engineer. He retired from NASA in 1999 and did consulting work for Jacobs Engineering for several years. He was an avid woodcarver and member of the North Alabama Woodcarver’s Association and enjoyed displaying his work at the woodcarving shows.
Don and Jan attended Mayfair Church of Christ for almost 50 years where Don served as a Deacon in Facilities Maintenance. He and Jan served on the Youth Parents’ Council and were also involved with the Monday Meals Ministry program for seniors.
Don was predeceased by his loving wife, Jan. Survivors include his two children, David (Allyson) and Cynthia Jones (Ashley); and six grandchildren, Conner (Haley), Caleb, and Alex Jones, and Heather Lamb (Preston), Kyle (Jenny), and Caroline Perkinson.
Visitation will be from 12:30-2:30 p.m. at Mayfair Church of Christ on Sunday, September 10th. The funeral will follow at 2:30 with Joe Essner officiating. Burial will be at Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Friends Inc., or Mayfair Church of Christ.
