Gordon Osborne Perkins, age 87, died Sunday, September 7, 2008 in Murfreesboro. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Martha (Betty) Perkins, daughter Nancy J. Perkins of Boca Raton, Florida, son Gordon O. Perkins Jr. and daughter-in-law, Susan Gilmore, both of Chisago City, Minnesota. Gordon was born in Collingdale, Pennsylvania near Philadelphia in 1920 to Osborne Perkins and Helen Anna Marcy Perkins. He graduated from Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia, and attended Clemson College (now University) in Clemson, South Carolina. He graduated in 1943 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. At Clemson he was an Ensign, member of Mu Beta Psi music fraternity, the concert band and A.I.E.E. He was also a trombone player in Clemson's well known Jungaleers college orchestra and was its Director during his senior year. From 1943 - 1946 Gordon served in the U.S. Navy. He was commissioned as an Ensign and was stationed at Norfolk Virginia where he demagnetized convoy ships headed for Europe. He was honorably discharged as a Lieutenant. He received his Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in 1948. During his career as an Electrical Engineer, Gordon designed switchgear, underground switches and held a number of patents for his inventions. He was an active member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and served on the Switchgear and other committees. He retired from the Square D Company in Smyrna, Tennessee in 1995. He was a mason and a member of the Hiram Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite and the First Presbyterian Church of Murfreesboro. Memorials to be made to First Presbyterian Church of Murfreesboro. Visitation with the family will be from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Thursday, September 11th at the Woodfin Funeral Chapel in Murfreesboro. The service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, September 12th at First Presbyterian Church in Murfreesboro, TN. Internment will be at the Arlington Cemetery in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania at a later date. Woodfin Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements 893-5151 www.woodfinchapel.com