Perkins Green Gaillard, Jr., 78, of Dunnellon, Florida, formerly of Columbia and Charleston, South Carolina, widower of Connie Sue Gaillard, entered into eternal rest Saturday, December 7, 2013. His funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 18, 2013, in J. HENRY STUHR INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL at 1:00 p.m. Entombment will follow at Carolina Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Stuhr's Downtown Chapel.
Mr. Gaillard was born September 16, 1935 in Columbia, South Carolina, son of Perkins Green Gaillard, Sr., and Charlotte Anna Sophia Jahnz Gaillard. He was nicknamed "Buddy" by his mother at a very early age, a name that stuck with him until his death. As a young man, Buddy was interested in motorcycles and automobiles and was involved in racing both throughout his life. He married Connie Sue Marshall, his next door neighbor, when they both were very young and entered the US Navy shortly after their marriage, serving in the Korean Conflict. He received his BS in Mechanical Engineering and retired from Civil Service as a Chief Engineer for the Trident II Missile Program at the Strategic Weapons Facility Atlantic (SWFLANT) in St. Marys, Georgia, which was his greatest career success. He served as President, Vice President and Board Member of Southeastern Enduro & Trail Riders Association, over a period of 35 years. His pleasure in life was being a father to his four children.
He is survived by his two daughters, Charlotte Elizabeth Jahnz Allbright (Jerry) of Melstone, MT, and Marla Gay Brackett of Atlanta, GA; son, Julius C. Gaillard of Summerville, SC; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his son, William "Marshall" Gaillard.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 5900 Core Road, Suite 504, North Charleston, SC 29406.