Barbara “Barbie” Perry, long time Hemet Valley resident, age 80, died Monday, June 11 at her home in Hemet. Born in Pasadena, CA, her family moved to Idyllwild when she was 12.

She attended Idyllwild Elementary, graduated from Hemet High School in 1949, and attended Stanford for one year. On July 8, 1950 she married Walter “Bud” Perry in the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Hemet where she has been a life-long member. Over the years she served as former Jr. Warden Vestry, Sunday School Teacher and search committee.

As a housewife she raised five children and was always busy with family and community activities. Her favorite summer activity was spending time at the Oceanside Beach Kamper Inn with family and friends. She loved a book in her hand and toes in the sand. Years later a condominium complex was built on the location of the Beach Kamper Inn. A unit was purchased so she and Bud could enjoy the beach year round.

Hand in hand they watched many sunsets together. She was a longtime volunteer for the Ramona Pageant, life membership in PTA and a member of the Jr. Women’s Club. She served as a director of Crippled Children Society, was a charter member of the Assistance League of Hemacinto, and a former board member of the Valley Dolphins Swim Club.

She and Bud’s golden retirement years included extensive travel of North America wearing out two camper trucks over a period of twenty years logging more than 150,000 miles. Taking a break from RV’ing, she loved to be pampered on the many cruises that she and Bud experienced together around the world.

She often shared her memories of Easter Island, Antarctica and the penguins, the Amazon River, the Pantanal, and Iguassu Falls in Brazil, being chased by a lion on a South African Safari, and the visit to Aland, Finland where her brother Shack and his wife Birgitta have a summer home.

For over 65 years, Barbie continued to relish her diverse life-long friends formed through her school classmates, family activities, and community involvement. She loved the social gathering of playing Bridge with her friends regularly.

She is going to be greatly missed by her husband of 61 years, Walter “Bud” Perry; daughter Jane (Jack) Perry-Teague; son Bruce (Candace) Perry; daughter-in-law Tina Perry; daughter Margi (Guy) Stinson; as well as her four grandchildren, Nichole and Trevor Perry, Michelle and Kenny Perry; a sister Peggy Craig and two brothers Jim and Shack Pitcher.

She was preceded in death by two sons, Mikey and Tom.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, June 18, 2012 at 9:00 am at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 308 E. Acacia Ave., Hemet, Ca. Graveside Services will follow at San Jacinto Valley Cemetery, San Jacinto, CA. For any family and friends who are unable to attend, we ask for your thoughts and prayers as we all say “Goodbye” to Barbie on Monday. For those able to attend the celebration of Barbie’s life, casual but not “beach casual” attire is appropriate. In lieu of flowers donations are requested to: Easter Seal Society, 1570 E. 17th St., Santa Ana, CA 92705.

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