Portsmouth – DeWitt P. “Bear” Perkins, Jr., 58, of Portsmouth, formerly of South Hadley, Mass., died Saturday, June 14, 2008, at the Portsmouth Regional Hospital.

He was born in Holyoke, Mass., November 8, 1949, the son of Barbara M. (Manglier) Perkins of South Hadley, Mass. and the late DeWitt P. Perkins.

He was a graduate of South Hadley High School with the Class of 1967, where he excelled in mathematics and swimming.  He also graduated from Lafayette College in Easton, Penn., where he attended on a swim scholarship and again excelled in swimming on the college swim team.

Mr. Perkins was a longtime REALTOR® in the Seacoast area.  He was a member and past director of the Seacoast Board of REALTORS® and served as President in 1994-1995, was a former Executive Director of the State of NH Multiple Listing Service, member and past director of the New Hampshire Association of REALTORS® and a member of the National Association of REALTORS®.

He was also the former owner and operator of the Exeter Dairy Queen from 1980 to the mid-1990s.  He had made the Seacoast his home since 1980 and had resided in Portsmouth since 1992.

In addition to his mother, he leaves his fiancée, Ann Cummings of Portsmouth, his daughter, Rebecca E. Perkins of Ithaca, NY, his son, DeWitt P. Perkins, III of Atlanta, GA, his sister, Frederica McGregor of Alexandria, VA, a nephew, Terrence McGregor of Gloucester, VA and a niece, Katherine McGregor of Alexandria, VA.

A calling hour will be held Wednesday, June 18, 2008, from 10  to 11 a.m. in the Bethany Congregational Church, 500 Breakfast Hill Road, Greenland.  Services will follow at 11 a.m.   Relatives and friends are respectfully invited.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the New England Organ Bank, One Gateway Center, Suite 202, Newton, MA  02458.  Arrangements are by the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, Hampton.