Perry Franklin Shope, 87

Perry Franklin Shope, 87, died Thursday, March 24, at his home in Bigfork.

He was born March 13,1918, in Billings, to Irvin Doyle and Anna Ruth (Eckles) Shope. He graduated from Billings High School in 1936.

After graduation, he joined the CCCs and was stationed in various western states. His last assignment with the CCCs was in Bigfork. Sixty-two years later, he returned to spend his last years in the most beautiful place on earth, Bigfork, Montana.

Perry loved flying, aircraft, football, basketball, the rodeo, and the mountains, but most of all he loved to tell stories about his friends in Texas.

In 1939 he enlisted in the Army Air Corps which later became the U.S. Air Force. He became a trainer of aircraft flight engineers on B29s during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He was a flight engineer of record on the Berlin AirLift.

He retired from the Air Force in 1968 in San Antonio, Texas. He then continued to work in the same position in the Civil Service until his retirement at age 65.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Velva I. Shope; sisters, Dorothy Hanson and Virginia Wagner; and brothers, Irvin Shope Jr., Rodney and Robert.

He is survived by his sister, DeLoris and Floyd Hertz; nephews, Allen and Claudia Potts, Mark and Joy Hertz, and Jim and Linda Beaty; nieces, Diane Gerharz, Kari Nelson, Sheri Taurman, Jody Sherwood, Jean Hutchins, Judy Serfazio; and several great- and great-great-nieces and nephews.

Graveside memorial services will be in Sunset Memorial Cemetery, San Antonio. Time and date to be announced.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.