Neal Rivers Perkins

Neal Rivers Perkins of Barlow, Kentucky, age 96 passed away on Monday, December 15, 2025 at Baptist Hospital in Paducah, Ky.  He was born on January 8, 1929 in Louisville, Ky. to his late parents, Virgil and Ellen (Penn) Perkins.

Neal was an Army Veteran and served his country honorably while stationed in Germany.  He was an avid UK Basketball and Nascar fan.  During his early years, he was a basketball star at Barlow High School in Ballard County, KY.  Neal attended First Baptist Church of LaCenter.  He enjoyed being outdoors and loved to fish every chance he could.  Neal never met a stranger and loved to talk to anyone who would listen.  He was fun-loving, loved to tell tales, and loved to laugh.  Neal enjoyed traveling around the country and loved to travel back and forth between California and KY.  Neal lived in Modesto, California for 50+ years where he worked and retired from Gallo.  He and his wife, Joann (deceased), raised their three children in Modesto.  In 2014, many years after his wife had passed, Neal moved back to Ballard County and married Mary Doris Viets whom he had grown up with and had gone to school with in his early life.  Neal had a big heart, was a gracious host and loved to show off the natural beauty of California when family and friends came to visit.


Surviving are his wife Mary Doris (Viets) of Barlow, Ky, a step-son Mark Viets of Barlow, step-grandson Josh Viets of Barlow, Ky, a step-great grandson, Robert Viets, and a step-great granddaughter, Emily Taylor, along with 4 great great grand-children of Paducah.  He is also survived by grandsons in Modesto, Garren Perkins, Jr., Christopher Fuentes and Deston Fuentes along with three great grandchildren of Modesto.  He is further survived by his brother-in-law Henry Stafford along with two nieces and three nephews, and special cousins, Alice Flowers and Melanie Heun of Paducah who have remained very close and dear to Neal and Mary Doris’s hearts.


Neal was preceded in death by his parents Virgil and Ellen, and his three children:  Garren Perkins, Darraugh Ann Perkins and Gerrilyn Rivers Perkins; a sister, Janrose (Perkins) Stafford, brother, Robert Jerl Perkins; and a step-son, Danny Viets.


A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of LaCenter with Mr. Mike Wilson officiating.