I learned yesterday that Charles Perry died recently, a victim of Alzheimer's disease in a nursing home. Charles was a key person to me as I grew up in Citra, Florida. He was a role model and like both a big brother and a favorite uncle.
Within a year of buying The Orange Shop, Dad hired Charles Perry, a young man recently returned from service in WWII. For many years, Charles managed The Orange Shop and Dad gave him credit for creating a thriving business that was profitable and served loyal customers for decades. He became Dad’s partner and, in my opinion, my Dad’s best friend. Dad and my mother, and later, Dad and Shelby, and Charles and his lovely wife, Vivian, would cheer on the University of Florida’s football team together in Gainesville.
I idolized Charles. He was athletic, bright, personable and could do anything. Dad was not handy and owned no tools. When something in the house broke, Dad would ask me to walk over to The Orange Shop to borrow a hammer or a screw driver. Charles would always ask what we needed it for. Then he would say, “I’ll walk back with you. Maybe I can help.” Then he would fix it.
Charles taught me how to work at The Orange Shop, came down hard on me when I swore, and taught me to respect everyone. He took me fishing on the Gulf Coast with his friend, Getzsie, and when I was a junior in high school, even let me have a beer. I wanted to grow up to be like Charles Perry.
After, I moved north, I only saw Charles once a year during my vacation. I reconnected with him briefly when we moved to North Carolina and my brother, John, was setting up a new orange shop in Ocala. By then, Charles had retired as active manager of the shop and his son-in-law, Rob, had taken over.
One thing I regret - I never told Charles how important he was to me when I was growing up.
Seasoned Man
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