Plan for the Future
Betty Virginia Perkins (nee Potts) of the Gillette section of Long Hill Township, NJ, formally of Harding Township, NJ and Ramsey, NJ died peacefully at home surrounded by family on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. Betty was 102 years old.
Betty was born in McConnelsville, Ohio, where she was raised on a farm with her family and her many pets. Betty moved to Hoboken, NJ as a teenager with her father. It was in Hoboken where she met her husband, James Franklin Perkins Jr. (Frank) while working at Maxwell House Coffee in Hoboken. They married in 1952 and moved to Ramsey, NJ to raise a family.
Betty was a very happy homemaker, as raising her five children and caring for the family pets was a job she absolutely cherished. In addition to raising her children, Betty was a volunteer at many of her children’s school functions, as well as an active member of Archer United Methodist Church in Allendale, NJ. Betty and Frank relocated the family to Harding Township, NJ where she continued to stay active with the Chatham United Methodist Church, PEO, Chatham and Harding Township Senior Citizens and as a volunteer at Morristown Memorial Hospital.
While living in Ramsey, Harding Township and Gillette, Betty made many beloved long-term friends. She greatly valued her friends and spent quality time gathering, traveling and talking on the phone as often as possible.
Betty loved being a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, it brought her so much joy and happiness when she was with family. Betty’s other interests included vacationing on Long Beach Island, NJ, traveling to Switzerland, visiting out-of-town friends and family, vacation getaways with friends, meeting new people, being socially active and being with her pets.
Betty will be remembered for her cheerful personality, beautiful smile, kind heart, infectious laugh, friendly disposition, happy demeanor, high energy, determination and a silly sense of humor.
Betty was devoted to her beloved husband Frank of 51 years who predeceased her in 2003. She was a devoted and loving mother to her five children and to an ever-growing family throughout the years. She had a life-long love of animals and their well-being. Her house always welcomed an animal in need.
Betty is survived by four of her children Bruce (Donna), Gary (Karen), Barbara, Robert predeceased her in 2016 (Ann), Joanne Sprouse (Fred). Her seven amazing grandchildren Jessica, Katie, David, Kara, Allyson, Lauren and Hannah and her seven beautiful great-grandchildren.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be sent to the Alzheimer’s/Dementia Association or an Animal Welfare Organization.
