NEW BERLIN – Ruso H. Perkins passed away on July 2, 2008 at Chase Memorial Nursing Home in New Berlin after a brief illness.
Ruso was born on Sept. 10, 1914, in New Berlin to Bryon R. Perkins and Marguerite Meckel Perkins. He had one younger brother, Rufus Perkins, who passed away in 2004.
He graduated from New Berlin High School in 1932 and attended Mohawk Valley Community College. He was a former Scoutmaster and member of the Boy Scouts of America. On April 6, 1942 in Schenectady, he married Jean Lois Kamerer. They had two children, Ruso Donald and Andrea Lynne.
Ruso retired in 1977 as Vice President of Preferred Mutual Insurance Co., where he had worked for 42 years. He was a former warden and vestryman of St. Andrew’s Church. He was affiliated with Phoebus Lodge #82 of the Masons and was treasurer for 17 years. He was also a charter member of the Hard Core Ski Club in New Berlin and was a member of the Leatherstocking Golf Club of Cooperstown and Riverbend Golf Club. He was trustee of the New Berlin Library for 36 years.
Ruso was a 10th Mountain Division I-87th Mountain Infantry veteran of World War II with service in the Aleutians and Northern Italy. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster. He was a member of the 10th Mountain Division Association and the International Federation of Mountain Soldiers, a group of soldiers from Austria, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Slovenia and the U.S. He served as treasurer of the Upstate New York Chapter of the 10th Mountain Division Association.
Skiing, golfing, gardening and traveling to Europe, Central and South America, Eqypt, Israel, western U.S. and Canada were his interests and hobbies. He was known for his wit and humor and zest for life. More importantly, his family, friends, golfing buddies, fellow 10th Mountain veterans and their families and his faith were his utmost passions.
He is survived by his son, Ruso Donald Perkins of Jackson Heights; daughter, Andrea L. Miller of Marshfield, Mass.; grandson, Thomas Byron Miller of New York City, devoted nieces, nephews and his cousin, Janet Walker of Albany.
A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held Aug. 16 at 1 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Church, New Berlin.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the New Berlin Library or St. Andrew’s Church, New Berlin.