Saturday, September 7, 2024
Frank passed away on July 12, 2024, peacefully at his home in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. Born to Frank Y. Perkins Sr. and Louise (Tutt) Perkins on August 1, 1940, in Lexington, Kentucky.
On June 26, 1965, Frank married the love of his life, Janice Beylik, and together, they built a family and a life filled with love and laughter. Frank was a devoted father to Jennifer Thompson (Dave); Janette Thornton (Richard); John Perkins; Jeff Perkins; and grandfather to Cameron, Zachary, Ariel, Jason, and Jack.
Frank was an amateur radio operator and flew for the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) in his early teens. He attended Christ the King School 1st-12th grade and graduated and then trained in electronics for two years. Then he moved to Altus, Oklahoma, where he worked on the Atlas Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (IBM) site.
In 1962, he was hired by Rocketdyne and moved to California and worked on the J4 and J5 rocket engines for the space program. From 1963-1969 he served in CA Air National Guard, responsible for keeping all communication equipment functioning in the C130s during the Vietnam War.
After that, he worked for IEE, which at that time manufactured large computers used by the airlines. Then he was hired in 1971 by Spacelabs Medical (first to develop medical monitoring systems used in the space program and later used in hospitals). There Frank held positions installing equipment in hospitals, doing technical repair, and eventually he was an instructor of the biotechs that repaired the equipment, and subsequently manager of the instructors.
Frank retired from Spacelabs in 2010 after 39 years of service. Frank had a great love of flying, was involved with amateur radio club and aiding HAM enthusiasts.
A Celebration of Life to honor Frank will be held on August 24, 2024, from 4-9 p.m. at Harvey Field, Hangar 15, Snohomish, where stories will be shared and memories cherished.
Frank will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. His warmth, wisdom, and the joy he brought to every gathering will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Please share memories at beckstributecenter.com.
