Paula L. Wakefield Perry 1949-2025

She was born Oct. 5, 1949, in Poland, the beloved daughter of Raymond Wakefield and Rosemary Kerr Wakefield.

At 19, Paula married Charles E. Perry in December 1968. Paula and Charlie resided in multiple places, including Niles, Ohio; Fayetteville, North Carolina; Key West, Florida; Bad Tolz, Germany; Madison, Wisconsin; Monterey, California; and (again) Fayetteville, North Carolina, before settling in Crown City, Ohio, in August 1997.

Paula is survived by her loving husband, Charlie; son, Christopher (wife, Shannon); three grandchildren, Charles Christopher Perry, Hope Perry and Danielle Perry Daugherty (husband, Jason); two great-granddaughters, Mariea and Riley Daugherty; older sister, Pam McCormick; and niece, Lisa Nuti.

Paula’s education included a bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State and Florida International universities. She then earned her teaching degree at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in history and art history. Additionally, she attended Marshall University and earned her master’s degree in art history.

Paula was an adjunct professor at Marshall University and Shawnee State University as an art and art history professor. Paula was eager to learn new things and take classes. She was passionate about art and how colors blend together to create something beautiful. Paula was an accomplished artist with her favorite mediums being pastel and oil paints.

Additionally, Paula loved to garden and raise flowers. She adored her pets, and had a great love for swimming and sunning on the beach.

Local services will be held 2 p.m. Monday, June 9, 2025, at Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home, Poland, with visitation 1 to 2 p.m.

Paula will be laid to rest beside her mother in Poland Riverside Cemetery.

Paula was loved and will be missed. In lieu of flowers, the family requests monetary donations be made to Shawnee State.

(special notice)