Dr. Rodgers Gene Perkins, age 95, resident of Fairhope, Alabama, passed away peacefully on Feb. 6, 2024. Gene was born on Feb. 12, 1928, to the late A.M. Perkins and the late Emma Catherine Rodgers Perkins in Jackson, Alabama. He is preceded in death by his three brothers, Aubrey, Jerry, and Matt Perkins. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Susan Stewart Perkins, his children, Terry (Eva) of Daphne, Alabama, Steve (Donna) of Saraland, Alabama, Eric (Joann) of Des Moines, Iowa, Stewart (Kellie) of Foley, Alabama and Meg Perkins Wittendorfer (Brian) of Montrose, Alabama; 12 grandchildren, Joshua, John, Jordan, Kyle, Nathan, Kaycie, Jeremy, Rosslyn, Ender, Aelwyn, Brooks and Rebekah (Sissy) and 14 great grandchildren. His two sisters Catherine Hunt (late Joe) and Jan Barton (Bob) along with numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
He attended Murphy High school and graduated in 1945. He enlisted in the US Navy shortly after graduation during World War II and spent the next four years in the Pacific. After his discharge from the Navy in 1949, he married Dorothy Dyess and raised three sons.
In 1953, he received his undergraduate and master’s from the University of Southern Mississippi.
He was a faculty member and coached Gymnastics and Weightlifting at Centenary College in Louisiana for two years, Baylor University in Waco, Texas for seven years. He moved back to his hometown, Mobile Alabama, and became one of the original faculty members of University of Mobile in 1963. In 1967 he received his Doctorate from University of Southern Mississippi while he remained Head of the Physical Education department at the University of Mobile until his retirement in 2011 at the age of 83.
In 1976, he married Susan Stewart Perkins of Foley, Alabama and had a son and daughter.
His accomplishments are too numerous to count but some to name are a Yo-Yo Master, a craftsman of wooden toys sold locally at Arts and crafts shows for 25 years, a poet, an author of textbooks that he taught from, his greatest accomplishment as a gymnast was standing on one finger, he was a weightlifter that could lift 302 pounds over head while weighing 129 pounds.
Funeral services were held Sat., Feb. 10, 2024, at 11:00 am in the chapel of Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home, Fairhope, and visitation began at 10:00 am.
Interment will follow funeral service at Pine Rest Memorial Park Cemetery.
