Frank J. Perch, Jr.

Frank J. Perch, Jr., 93, of Bethlehem Township, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 2, 2026. Born on February 26, 1933 in Bethlehem, he was the son of the late Frank J. and Grace (Horvath) Perch.

Frank was a graduate of Liberty High School and served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. After his naval service, Frank was employed by Bethlehem Steel Corporation for 40 years where he worked in several capacities including as a metallurgist. Frank married the love of his life, Jeannette A. (Grosset) Perch in 1958, and they enjoyed 60 years of marriage before Jeannette's death in 2018.

Frank had many talents and passions. He was an artist and a member of the Bethlehem Palette Club, where he painted alongside the well-known local artist Fred Bees. Frank was also a skilled carpenter, designing and building a three-room addition to the family home. He was a woodworker and furniture maker. He repaired and restored antique clocks. He enjoyed antique car shows, and cruising in his two-seater Thunderbird. After he retired from Bethlehem Steel, he and Jeannette enjoyed traveling, visiting England, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovenia, along with many destinations in the U.S. When they were not on the road or in the air, Frank and Jeannette spent time with friends and family including son Frank III and granddaughter Katie.

Frank will be dearly missed by his son, Frank J. Perch III and his wife, Jocelyn A. Banks, of Elkins Park, PA; granddaughter, Katharine G. Perch, of Philadelphia; two nieces, Nancy Riley and her wife, Audrey McKinney and Kathryn Showak and her husband, Christopher; two nephews, Robert Bush and James Bush and his wife, Jane; and brother-in-law, Robert Grosset and his wife, Lorraine.

In addition to his parents, Frank is preceded in death by his wife, Jeannette, and sister, Helen (Perch) Bush.

A viewing for family and friends will be held on Friday, March 6, 2026 from 10-11:00 a.m. at Connell Funeral Home, Inc., 245 E. Broad St., Bethlehem, PA 18018 with a funeral service beginning at 11 a.m. in the funeral home. Burial will conclude services at Holy Saviour Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to BrightFocus Foundation Macular Degeneration Research, https://www.brightfocus.org/macular/macular-degeneration-research/