Daniel Crawford Perry, Colonel, USAF (Retired), died Monday, Nov. 28, 2016, in Post Falls, Idaho. He was 93.

Daniel was born in Cambridge, Mass., on June 1, 1923, the son of Basil Harrison Perry and Lila Hall Crawford Perry. As the son of a career Army officer, he spent his early years on various Army posts as well as in Washington, D.C., and West Point, N.Y. He graduated from Wilson High School in Washington, D.C., and was awarded his undergraduate degree when he graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in 1945, as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps.

His postgraduate studies included two years at the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright Field, near Dayton, Ohio, and George Washington University (while attending the Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Ala.). His years in the Air Force included three overseas tours (Philippine Islands, The Netherlands and Vietnam), the Pentagon, and several bases and professional schools. He was a Command Pilot and flew many different types of jet aircraft, including F-86, F-102 and F-4. He received several awards and decorations, notably two Legions of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, seven Air medals and the Meritorious Service Medal.

In 1948, he and Mary Elizabeth Robertson of Charleston, S.C., were married, and subsequently they adopted two children: Mikell D. Perry, now living in Sunset, S.C., and Anne (“Nancy”) H. Perry, currently residing in Richmond, Va. In 1970, he and Mary divorced, and in late 1971 Daniel married Jeanne Weiser Schwanger. Jeanne’s children are Jonelle S. Greear, living in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Erik Coral-Sands, living in California.

After retiring from the Air Force in 1972, Daniel was employed in Tampa, Fla., for a number of years by the Reeves Corporation, and served as the Director of Personnel and Safety. In 1985, he and Jeanne moved to Sedona, Ariz., until 1989, when they moved to Coeur d’Alene and, finally, to the Highlands area of Post Falls.

Daniel enjoyed every Army post he lived on during his youth, and was especially enthusiastic about the jobs he had during this Air Force career. He often said that he had great assignments, and never could have been happier than he was in the Service. He was an avid fisherman, loved working in his yard and maintained a lively interest in collecting stamps. He truly liked people and rarely had an unkind word for anyone. He was a well-rounded individual, participating in many sports in his youth; tennis was his first love, followed closely by basketball, squash and golf.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the American Cancer Society will be appreciated.

Yates Funeral Homes has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Daniel’s obituary and sign his online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.