2008
William John Perkins Sr., 85, a retired editorial artist at three Washington newspapers, died April 28 of cancer at his home in
Norfolk.
Mr. Perkins began his career in the late 1940s with the old Washington Times-Herald and later worked at the Washington Star
and The Washington Post before retiring in 1985. He drew maps and did page layouts, photo retouching and occasional
drawings and cartoons.
In addition to his work at the newspapers, he did freelance work for National Geographic and other publications, as well as for a
display at the 1964 New York World's Fair.
Mr. Perkins was born in Washington, Ind., and moved to the District as a child. He was a graduate of Eastern High School.
During World War II, he served in a photo intelligence unit of the Army Air Forces in the Pacific. After the war, he came to
Washington and graduated from the Corcoran School of Art.
His received an award from the Art Directors Club of Metropolitan Washington and was a member of the Newspaper Guild.
He was a longtime Arlington County resident and a member of the Dominion Hills Civic Association. From 1985 to 2000, he
lived in Duck, N.C.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Pat Perkins of Norfolk; three children, Pam Palma of Arlington, William J. Perkins Jr. of
Hampton, Va., and Dana Graves of Fairfax County; and four grandchildren.
-- Matt Schudel