William Kennon Perrin III passed away peacefully at his home in Ware Neck on Monday, August 3, 2026, at the age of 84. Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., Bill had a lifelong love of business and stewardship. He spent his high school and college summers employed as a hod carrier, which convinced him that he might prefer banking. Bill earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and was an ongoing active alumnus. After marrying Susan Morck at Ware Church, they moved to New York City, Atlanta, and Long Island before settling in Greenwich, Conn. Though three children and a 30-year career in investment banking kept him busy, he still managed to fit in countless hours of golf and games of backgammon.
In 2000, Bill and Sue moved to Ware Neck. Needing a new hobby and together with a coalition of enthusiastic Ware Neckers, Bill led a successful effort to save the historic Nuttall’s Store. He enjoyed sitting in the back of the store, assessing the length of the line of customers at the cash register.
Bill was terribly cheap, but deeply and quietly generous. His investment advice was brief: “If you don’t understand it, don’t do it.” He unapologetically wore alarmingly bright colors. He was a collector of antiquities, being partial to boats, cars, and receipts. After working in Manhattan for decades, he knew every neighborhood on “Law & Order.” A world traveler, he was happiest sailing the lower Caribbean, sharing his favorite islands and watering holes with family and friends. The slamming of the screen door at the Pawleys Island beach house drove him nuts. Bill will be sorely missed by his large and loving family.
Bill was predeceased by his parents, David Baldwin Perrin and Lois Hines Perrin, and his brother, Walter Catesby Perrin. He is survived by his wife Sue; their children, Tyler Perrin Schuessler (Alexander), William “Kennon” Perrin (Rachel), and Augusta Perrin Merrill (Scott); grandchildren, Martha, Ben, Wesley, and Maeve. His life will be celebrated on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at 3 p.m. at Ware Episcopal Church. Inurnment will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to Friends of the Ware Neck Store, P.O. Box 154, Ware Neck, Va. 23178, and to Ware Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 616, Gloucester, Va. 23061.
Services under the direction of Hogg Funeral Home.