It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of a dear friend and an amazing man.
Richard "Dick" Russell Perdue, 89, passed away in Greenville, SC on April 10, 2021. He was a perfect example of a man who lived the American dream; a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. Dick is survived by his wife Betty Jean Perdue of Greenville, daughter Deborah Ann Perdue of Greenville, brother Fred Perdue of Fresno CA, sister in law, Carol Glass, of Winder GA, 2 grandsons, 5 great grandchildren of Little Rock AR, and many nieces and nephews. Dick was born August 23, 1931 to Russell and Virginia Perdue of Ripley, New York, a small fishing community in upstate New York. Dick was the middle child of 3 brothers, older brother Roger and younger brother Fred. As a young man, Dick grew up poor, but very happy. He was known to tell stories about his mother making the children’s clothes out of old military blankets, which he remembers being very itchy in the summer. Dick was also known to tell stories of the kitchen in their home. They had a wood-burning stove that Virginia would cook meals on. It was also used to heat the home and for laundry.
After graduating from a 1 room schoolhouse, Dick went to college at the University of Georgia, and would hitchhike back home to upstate NY on holidays. He graduated with honors summa cum laude with a master’s degree in microbiology. Dick’s love for Georgia carried through his entire life and was an active alumnus. He loved to attend Bull Dog football games and was known to say “my blood will always run red!”
While in college Dick met his wife of 67 years, the love of his life, Betty. Soon after, they had a daughter Deborah. Deborah was born in a hotel room in 1957 when traveling through Lewisville, GA.
Greenville, SC is where Dick, Betty, and Deborah set their roots. Taking a job with CRYOVAC, an upcoming plastics company, Dick had an over 30-year career. Dick became an innovator in vacuum packaging. He was a visionary always looking for new ideas. Dave Thomas of Wendy’s and Dick designed the concept “Fresh Never Frozen", a footprint no other fast-food restaurant has ever kept. Go to your local supermarket, pick up a packaged steak, flip it over, bet it says CRYOVAC. Dick Perdue fed the world.
After traveling the world, Tigerville, SC is where Dick found retirement. Two mountain sides on the foothills of the Smoky Mountains are where he planted over 500 fruit trees, berries, and a catfish pond, where he took his grandsons to fish. Dick spent over 25 years here with his roadside retail market, Perdeaux Farms, and had a lab/kitchen in the back where he continued to experiment with vacuum packaging. His farm is still there today, with new ownership.
Dick had no love lost for his family. His daughter Deborah had 2 sons, Paul (Jennifer) and Richard (Kaitlyn), 5 great grandchildren Peyton, Jacob, Gabby, Bailey, and James. Grampa, as he was lovingly known, shared his love for the outdoors with his 2 grandsons and great grandchildren with trips to Myrtle Beach, duck hunting in AR, and deer hunts in NY. Dick had many legacies, from a global visionary in food science to the trees he lovingly grafted on the hillsides in Tigerville. But if you could ask him today what his greatest achievement of his grand life, it would be the family who is so grateful to have had him in their lives.
The family will receive friends from 2:30pm until 3:45pm on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at Mackey Funerals and Cremations at Century Drive. A funeral service will follow at 4:00pm in the funeral home chapel. The service will be live streamed for those who cannot attend in person at www.facebook.com/mackeymortuary.
Graveside services will be in Winder, GA at Barrow Memorial Gardens on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at 1:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association and Lee Road United Methodist Church.
Mr. Perdue, you will be missed by all. Thank you for your important impact on this world.