Mar. 17, 1915 –

Feb. 15, 2013

Perry David Rich Jr., 97, of Tallahassee, Fla., formerly of Bainbridge, passed away Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, at his residence.

The funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013, at First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Randy Mosley officiating. Interment will be at Oak City Cemetery. James Howard Rentz Jr., George Parks Callan III, Michael Ryan Powell, Winton Preston Laslie, Charles Roberts Laslie, Phillip Jordan Callan, Jaret Mark Bryan and Gabriel James Rentz will serve as active pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013, prior to the funeral service, at First United Methodist Church.

Memorials may be made to Prison Ministries of the United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 472, Bainbridge, GA 39818.

Mr. Rich was born March 17, 1915, in Colquitt, Ga., the son of Perry David Rich and Mary Powell Rich. During World War II, he was a flag man for Atlantic Coastline Railroad on troop trains. He owned and operated the West Bainbridge Water Department and later the Dixie Pines Motel, the first motor court in Bainbridge. He was the retired owner of Rich’s Casuals, a ladies specialty shop. Perry enjoyed golfing, dancing, reading, and boating with his daughters. He had a strong faith in God and was faithful to visit relatives and friends in need. He was the catalyst for starting the Prison Ministries for the United Methodist Church in south Georgia.

He was preceded in death by his siblings, Forest Rich, Hattie Sue Rich Welch, Julia Rich Jackson, Ruth Rich Windham and Mazie Rich Ramsey.

Survivors include his wife, Lorraine Humphrey Rich of Tallahassee, Fla.; his daughters, Janice Rich Rentz and her husband, James “Buddy,” of Albany, Ga., Maridel Rich Callan and her husband, Parks, of Colquitt, and June Rich Laslie and her husband, Charles, of Quincy, Fla.; his grandchildren, James Howard Rentz Jr. and his wife, Dawn, Brandon Barineau Rentz, Sheila Marie Rentz, George Parks Callan III and his wife, Elisha, Lacey Amanda Callan, Mary Elizabeth Callan Powell and her husband, Ryan, Winton Preston Laslie and his wife, Candice, and Charles Roberts Laslie and his wife, Jessica; his great-grandchildren, Gabriel Rentz, Madeline Rentz, Phillip Jordan Callan, George Parks Callan IV, Ellen Marie Bryan, Jaret Mark Bryan, Callan Elizabeth Bryan, Taylor Elizabeth Powell, Michael Callan Powell and Hunter Talmadge Laslie.

Ivey Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.