Hilda Jean Perkins

Hilda Jean Perkins, 82, a fellow Hoosier, met her Maker at her rural home where she had been in hospice care on Saturday, April 25, 2015. She was born in Shelby County on May 13, 1932, the daughter of Larry “Buck” and Blanche (Brown) Moore. She was married on May 28, 1950 to Robert Franklin Perkins, her beloved husband, who died in 2005. Surviving is her daughter, Amelia Beth Perkins; nieces and nephews; cousins; and Brownie, along with other beloved pets. Also preceding her in death are her parents; son, Malcolm B. Perkins in 1998; and sisters, Mila Fern Myers, Marjorie Irene Wissing and Beulah Mae Pruitt. Hilda graduated from Manilla High School in 1950. Mrs. Perkins, whose home was near Homer, was a mother, caregiver and founder of Homer Crop Service, where she was secretary. She had lived in Walker Township of Rush County for 65 years. She had previously resided in Shelby County for 17 years of her earlier years near Morristown. She founded the “Gab, Garb and Glamour Club” (a homemakers club), and volunteered as Girl Scout leader for a Manilla troop and was also a 4-H leader for Walker Township. She was co-organizer of Mentally Ill Support Group in Rush, Hancock and Shelby counties, Breast Cancer Support Group and an advocate for mental illness awareness. She retired in 1985. Hilda enjoyed many interests and hobbies. She loved gardening, crafting, writing, reading, quilting, scrapbooking, comics, the Homer Arts and Crafts Festival, Metamora Canal Days, “Sister Day on Wednesdays”, and dining at the Cow Palace. Recently she enjoyed visits and conversations with artist, Nancy Noel and Rita Jackson. She weathered breast cancer, leukemia, a heart attack, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a stroke. Appreciation is extended to a multitude of friends, family, businesses, medical staffs and Our Hospice of South Central Indiana for their kindness, generosity and professionalism. Visitation will be from 10 am to noon, Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will be at noon, Wednesday at the funeral home, with Rev. Dena Vittorio officiating. She will be buried at Manilla Cemetery in Manilla. Memorial contributions may be made to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, 2626 E. 17th St., Columbus, IN 47201, Cancer Association of Shelby County, P.O. Box 844, Shelbyville, Indiana 46176, The Salvation Army, 136 E. Washington St., Shelbyville, IN 46176 or a local food pantry.