Obituary of Lena Elizabeth Perkins

RIPLEY, NY - Lena Elizabeth (Mitchell) Perkins, age 98, of Cass Street, Westfield, NY, formerly of Petersburg and Richmond, VA, died Thursday, October 18, 2012 at Absolut Care of Westfield. Lena was born on November 8, 1913 in Petersburg, VA the daughter of the late Benjamin and Florence Estelle (Irvin) Mitchell. He predeceased her 07/05/1944. She had been employed by the Virginia Commonwealth University, in Richmond, VA as a Student Coordinator. Lena moved to Westfield from Richmond, VA in the mid 1990's to be closer to her family. She enjoyed needle point and shopping with her great grandchildren, who were the love of her life. She was an avid reader of current events and enjoyed being up to date on politics and news. Lena was friendly and outgoing; she was affectionately known by her friends in Westfield and Ripley as "our Southern Belle". Survivors include her daughter: Patricia (Don) Barger, Sr. of Ripley, NY, her grandchildren; Terry (Kerry) Woody of Milwaukee, WI, Donald E. (Ed) Barger, Jr. and his wife Patti of Westfield, Robin Ann Barger of Lancaster, CA and Melissa (James) Flynn of Fairview, PA. 8 Great Grandchildren and 2 Great Great Grandchildren also survive. She was preceded in death by her husband, Nelson C. Perkins, whom she married on January 5, 1932 in Virginia and who died on July 5, 1944 and by her 2 Great Great Grandchildren, Thomas Earl Barger and Leslie Jane Barger, as well as her 3 sisters, Ruby Orton, Thelma Sullivan and Estelle Mitchell and her brother, Frank Irvin Mitchell. Friends may call on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at the First Presbyterian Church of Ripley, 20 West Main St., Ripley, NY from 1PM until the time of Services there at 2 PM with Rev. Philip Johnson, officiating. Burial will be in Blanford Cemetery in Petersburg, VA. Memorials may be made to The First Presbyterian Church of Ripley, 24 West Main Street, Ripley, NY 14775. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the MASON Funeral Home, 37 Clinton St., Westfield, NY 14787. Log on to www.masonfuneral.com to send Lena's family a message of sympathy.