Service Saturday for retired firefighter killed in accident

A memorial service is 1-4 p.m. Saturday at the CVIC Hall in Minden for 19-year Mission Hot Springs resident and retired fire Capt. James Arthur Perry, 69, who was killed in a head-on collision in Gardnerville on Dec. 3, 2009.

Born Dec. 30, 1939, in Oakland, Calif., to Mary Ann and "Bud" Joseph Perry, he was raised by John B. "Red" Melton, following his parents divorce in 1949.

Capt. Perry attended Burton Avenue School, Robert Fulton Junior High and Van Nuys High School. He was a Duncan Yo-Yo champion.

Capt. Perry joined the U.S. Army in 1957 and served in the California National Guard and Army Reserve for six years. He received an honorable discharge as a sergeant.

Following his military service, Mr. Perry attended Los Angeles Valley College and earned an associate's degree in fire science as well as his vocational teaching credential.

He joined the Los Angeles City Fire Department in April 1961, and continued his education in fire service training and personnel management at UCLA, Cal-Poly-Pomona, University of Wisconsin, and George Meany Center for Labor Studies in Silver Springs, Md., and seminars on journalism, editing, photography and computer science.

Capt. Perry was was the first Los Angeles Fire Department public service officer, recruitment and community relations officer, division training officer and coordinator for National Fire Service Recognition Day.

He received many awards and special commendations for difficult rescues, including the National American Red Cross Life Saving Award of Merit from President John F. Kennedy in August 1963 for the LAFD's first successful CPR in a physical rescue incident.

Capt. Perry was the editor of The Los Angeles Firefighter for the past 40 years and was editor of the LAFD Firemen's Grapevine magazine, as well as the executive editor of the American Firefighter magazine. He received more than 160 awards of excellence in journalism from the Greater Los Angeles Press Club; the International Labor Communications Association; the Western Labor Press Association and the International Association of Firefighters.

Capt. Perry is survived by wife Bookey; six children, John, Ron (LeAnn), Christine (Luke), Niles (Lici), Justin and Michelle; six grandchildren Lindsey, Kayla, Josh, Randy, Jordan M. and Jordan L.; brothers Frank (Regina), George (Sue); sisters Pat (Joe) and Carol; numerous nieces and nephews. The family requests donations to the Los Angeles Firemen's Relief Association's Widows, Orphans and Disabled Firefighter's Fund at 815 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90041. For more information visit www.uflac.org.