Major William Frank Perl Jr USAF Retired

Published 9:46 am Friday, March 21, 2025

Well-travelled Oregon native.

At a moment that still resonates today, on the morning of August 13, 1961, the people of Berlin, Germany awoke to discover that a barbed wire fence had gone up overnight separating East and West Berlin. The fence was soon expanded to include cement walls and guard towers. The Berlin Wall would become the most iconic image of the Cold War. President Kennedy responded by activating 150,000 reservists and volunteers like Bill Perl.

Born July 5, 1931, Bill grew up in Medford, Oregon. The son of Frank and Dorothy Perl, owners of the Perl Funeral Home which was founded by his grandfather, John A. Perl. Bill along with his sister, Marianne, attended Medford High School, home of the ‘Tornados’ where he played football and basketball. On occasion, he could be seen playing piano on local television advertising the family funeral business. After graduating in 1949, Bill attended the University of Oregon where he joined the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and took part in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). During his freshman year, Bill was the manager of the UofO varsity basketball team and spent the season traveling with the team across the USA. He remained a devoted Ducks fan throughout his life.

In 1956, he met Margaret Ripfl at the Criterion Theater where she worked as an usher. Their courtship blossomed into marriage in 1957, and they spent their honeymoon on cruise to Hawaii. They went on to have three children: William, Frederick and Pamela.

Bill was commissioned as a 2nd Lt in the USAF in 1961, and went on to serve 23 years at posts around the world including BAF Brize Norton, England; Grenier AFB, Manchester, New Hampshire; Spangdahlem AFB, Germany; McClellan AFB, Sacramento, California; Hickam AFB, Oahu, Hawaii; and F.E. Warren AFB, Cheyenne, Wyoming. While serving, he received his masters in Public Administration in 1977 from the University of Northern Colorado. Bill retired as a Major in 1979, and he and his family relocated to Lakeside, Oregon where he took up the post of City Recorder.

In retirement, Bill became a passionate gardener, botanist and civic volunteer to his Oregon coast community. With the assistance of former Oregon House Representative, Peter DeFazio, he adorned the Oregon State and Nation’s Capital grounds in Washington DC with his trees.

Bill was preceded in death by his sister, Marianne Zundel of Medford, OR. Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Margaret Perl of Coos Bay, OR; his niece, Robin Stroh of Medford, OR; three children and four grandchildren.

Bill left a positive impact on his tireless efforts to serve his community, state and nation through his hard work, generosity and determination. May he rest in peace.

Bill passed away peacefully on February 27th 2025, aged 93. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 22nd 2025 at 1pm at the Coos Bay Chapel, Coos Bay, Oregon. Arrangements are under the care of Coos Bay Chapel 685 Andersen Avenue, Coos Bay, OR 97420 541-267-3131. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.coosbayareafunerals.com …