September 21, 1948 – May 31, 2025
Richard was predeceased by his parents Ron and Estelle Perry. He is survived by the mother of his children, Verna, his two children Jordan (Alicia) Janna (Alex) grandson Charlie, brother James (Meredith) two nieces and two nephews.
Richard was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba where boyhood on the prairies gave him freedom he loved to roam around the surrounding countryside on his bicycle, and still be home by dark.
In Richard’s early teens his brother, James, was born and in his older teens his family made a big move to the big city of Toronto. Uprooting was not easy for him in his last year of high school.
Attracted by the world of film, he abandoned his English major to attend York University Film School. However, as a young man, the prairies called to him and he decided to move to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. There Richard met Verna, who became his wife and he soon discovered the joys and challenges of fatherhood. He enjoyed playing with his young children and as they grew, seeing them pursuing their own interests. He was very proud of his daughter and his son and their accomplishments.
He had a great desire to live as independently as possible and in the country as much as possible. In order to do this he pursued and enjoyed learning, mostly on his own, skills such as mechanics, carpentry, and other handyman skills. He took pride in maintaining his own vehicles and homes, including renovating several houses he lived in with his family.
He enjoyed many various careers such as a semi-truck driver, letter carrier for Canada Post, farmer, mechanic and restorer of trusty old Volvos, as well as work in the Saskatchewan and Manitoba Film Industries.
For a couple decades he passionately kept many appreciative friends, family and acquaintances reliably and inexpensively on the road. He enjoyed meeting and getting to know a variety of people, and they got to know him not only as a very unique mechanic, eventually called “The Volvo Guru”, but also as the intellectual person and hilarious orator he was.
In his 50’s Richard sought opportunity to enthusiastically work on many films made in Saskatchewan, mostly as a car wrangler. It was a great loss to him when the Saskatchewan Film Industry could no longer survive. He, then, looked at returning to his home province, with hopes of pursuing his passionate film work there. His marriage ended and he moved to the small resort town of Gimli, Manitoba. He did some film work there, including a few small acting roles, fulfilling a lifelong dream.
Richard enjoyed retirement and small town living, finding satisfaction in completely renovating a small cabin to his own personal taste, having a large garage built, tinkering with old Volvos, tending his yard and walking by Lake Winnipeg. He was very happy when his children, their partners and his little grandson visited.
After one and a half years of being very unwell with cancer, Richard passed away in the Gimli Hospital on May 31, 2025. May he rest in peace.
Family and friends are invited to share memories and condolences on Richard’s memorial page using the comment field below.