Leonard C Perry's Obituary
Leonard Charles Perry, aka “L. Chas” and “TD,” licensed attorney in Ohio and California, died on April 14, 2024, in San Diego, nine years after the death of his beloved wife, Elinor.
Len was born on June 11, 1924, in Oberlin, Ohio, to Attorney Clyde C. and Ruth Mae Perry. (Len's paternal grandfather, who was born in slavery, after emancipation, also became an attorney.) Len’s family moved to Cleveland, Ohio at age five. He excelled at sports and in 1943 Len was Cleveland’s champion high hurdler. Len served our country as a radio operator with the Combat Engineers in the European theater during World War II. In 1951, Len finished law school and passed the Ohio Bar. He began his legal career as a Contract Specialist with the Ordnance Corps, Department of the US Army. In 1958, he was featured in Ebony Magazine’s “Speaking of People” for his accomplishments with the Cleveland Ordnance District.
In Cleveland during the 1960’s, Len was the NASA Lewis Research Center’s Contracting Officer and managed over forty administrators. Under his direction, they developed General Dynamic’s Astronomics/Convair Division’s Centaur upper-stage booster. The success of this program is looked upon as one of the Center’s stellar achievements, getting a man on the Moon! “Len Perry” was mentioned several times in NASA’s history book of the Lewis Research Center (1982).
In 1970, Len, was hired by General Dynamics as the Manager of Materiel Contracts, Convair Division and the family relocated to San Diego. When Len’s supervisor asked about his career objective, he replied, “What more can you do after you’ve been to the Moon?”
Len took the California Bar Exam in 1973. Len’s good friend, the late federal Judge Earl B. Gilliam, swore him into the State Bar of California.
Len’s organizations; Alpha Phi Alpha and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternities, National Bar Assoc., Earl B. Gilliam Bar Assoc., Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Assoc., Board of Trustees San Diego Community College, Scholarship Award Board for the SD Air & Space Museum.
Len was a devout believer in Christ and he lived according to Psalm 23.
Grateful for a full life. Len will forever be in the hearts of his family: daughters, Valorie Ashley, Pam Perry Smal (Frank); son, Leonard “Chip” Perry Jr; grandchildren, Kimberly Michele Tharpe, Tiffany Nicole Tharpe, Mason “KC” Perry, Leonard “Chaz” Perry III, Nicholas Andre Smal (Erin); great-grandchildren, Jelani Tharpe, Nacio DeLeon Tharpe, Lilian Eve Smal, Audra Elizabeth Smal, Davis Christopher Smal; nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.
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Memorial Service: Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 2:00 pm at Greenwood Mortuary
4300 Imperial Ave, San Diego, CA 92113, Salli Lynn Chapel
The family asks in lieu of flowers, please donate
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