Thelma Perry - Obituary

helma Drury Perry passed away on Thursday, December 12 after a lengthy illness. Born in Washington, D.C. to the late William Albert and Mary Thelma Drury, Thelma grew up on Capitol Hill and attended Holy Comforter Catholic School and the Immaculate Conception Academy. During World War II, she worked at the Adjutant General's School in Fort Washington and later transferred to the Veteran's Administration in Washington, D. C. She was employed as a secretary and administrative assistant for 10 years at the Naval Research Laboratory's Optics Division. In 1969, she served as a technical librarian at the Naval Medical Research Institute in Bethesda and received the Superior Civilian Service Award from the Department of the Navy in 1984. During her retirement, Thelma served as a volunteer at Southern Maryland Hospital until 1997. She also served as past president of the Chevy Chase Lions Club and past vice president of the Bethesda Woman's Club. She spent her retirement years at her home on the Rhode River, just south of Annapolis. Her favorite things were chocolate milk shakes, hot chocolate, and Jim's martini's served straight up with an olive. She was preceded in death by her husband, James E. Perry; a granddaughter, Jamie Ann Redden, and a great grandson, Bailey A. Redden. Thelma is survived by a daughter, Consuelo (Robert Pisciotta) Tippins; two sons, James E. (Carrie) Perry, Jr. and Albert B. Perry, six grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Friends are invited to Thelma’s Life Celebration from 4 to 6pm on Monday at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30am on Tuesday, December 17 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 29119 Point Lookout Rd., Morganza. Interment will be in the church cemetery. An online guestbook is available by clicking the link on this page.