Perry Curtis Bales

Perry Curtis Bales, 91, passed away peacefully on April 2, 2023 in Arlington, Texas.

The youngest of nine children, Perry was born in Claude, Texas on December 20, 1931 to Elwood Edward Bales and Ida Moyer. His father was a farmer and he grew up mostly in Missouri and Kansas and became an expert at milking cows. He attended college at Central Missouri State University for a few years, but volunteered for the United States Air Force during the Korean War and was stationed in Tripoli, North Africa, and traveled extensively, including most of Europe. While stationed in Washington D.C., he met Edwina Johnson, who was also a member of the Air Force, who would turn out to be the love of his life. Perry and Edwina were married in 1954 and remained married for the next 63 years until her death in 2017. Perry finished his bachelor’s degree in business in 1957 and, eventually, he and Edwina had four children. The family lived in Missouri, Kansas, Texas, South Dakota, Colorado, and Oklahoma, and finally returned to Arlington, Texas in 1975 and it was there where they settled and raised their family.

Perry had worked mostly in the aerospace industry with Bendix, LTV, Martin-Marietta, General Dynamics, and Lockheed. But he was also a man of many skills. He trained as a tax preparer to make extra money, which he worked at for many years. While living in Lakewood, Colorado, he obtained his real estate license and sold property for about 5 years. In fact, he did well enough in 1974, that he was the top salesman and won a trip to Hawaii for the whole family, which has always been a very memorable trip for everyone. He also worked with his brother Wayne in Missouri on various real estate ventures.

Perry was a fan of the Kansas City A’s baseball team before the team relocated to Oakland. Living in Arlington, he became a long-time devoted fan of the hometown Texas Rangers. Perry and his son Eddy attended more than 25 home openers together. He was also an avid Dallas Cowboys fan, through thick and thin, and he watched many games with his daughter Lynn, son-in-law Jim, and grandchildren Susan and Sarah. An accomplished author, Perry had published eight Western novels and was working on two others at the time of his death.

Perry was also a lover of music and participated every Saturday in a “Hootenanny” with his son-in-law Larry Heath and daughters Debbie and Jenny. Perry was a fan of a lot of old, great singers and his knowledge even challenged the “Alexa” program for some of his favorite tunes.

More than anything, Perry enjoyed just being with his friends and family. Perry was a genuinely kind and friendly man and he will be missed by everyone who knew him.

Perry was preceded in death by his wife Edwina Bales. He is survived by son Eddy Bales and his wife Leslie; daughters Lynn Runyan and her husband Jim, Debbie Bales Heath and her husband Larry, and Jenny Bales; grandchildren, Susan, Sarah, Amanda, Sloan, Savannah, Gavin and Macy; great grandchildren, Walker, Mabel, Claire, and Tyler, as well as countless friends.