Russell Dean Perry

Born January 7, 1943 at home on a family farm outside of Carl, Iowa, Russ was an avid traveler, history buff, crossword enthusiast, foodie, and conversationalist. Russ’s joys in life were paired with an appetite for knowledge and gleeful good humor. Raised on a farm in rural southwest Iowa with five older brothers, he served four years in the United States Air Force on a Minuteman Ballistic Missile Site in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Russ earned a BS in Economics from Northwest Missouri State University, worked as a federal civilian employee for the US government in Germany and would go on to “sling ice cream, donuts, and coffee” for nearly 40 years as a Baskin Robbins/Dunkin Donuts franchisee. His competitive passion for Cribbage, Scrabble and Croquet was tempered only (occasionally) by his deep love and affection for his family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, James and Eva; brothers, Eugene, Jay, Clair, Merrill, and Doyle; and his grandson Jake. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 45 years, Starla, his children, Leslie, Gregory, Eric and Clarissa, and grandchildren, Adam, Skylar, Sophia, Darcy, James, John, Mark, Alden and Tamsen.

A Celebration of Life will be held in his honor on Friday, May 2, 2025 from 1:00-3:30 pm at Henricus Historical Park, 251 Henricus Park Road, Chester, Virginia 23836.