Longtime Malibu resident Illah B. Perrin died Sept. 13. She was 93.
Perrin was born May 23, 1917 in New Mexico to Shelby and Vivian Persinger. She grew up in San Bernardino with her sister Maxine and brother Shelby.
As a young woman, she met and married John “Jack” Belding Perrin. They had four sons, Dennis, Steve, Scott and Jojo (Joel).
As the boys grew into young men, Perrin began to grow personally and professionally. She entered the real estate business and later fashion and manufacturing. Her first factory was on Hope Street, and the next factory was on Flower Street, what her daughter-in-law Jackie called “a fitting address for this bright, colorful woman.”
Changing times and new opportunities eventually convinced Perrin to transition her manufacturing operation from clothing to golf products. Illah California Inc. slowly evolved into Belding Sports, a custom golf bag manufacturing company. Her husband became her business partner. As Belding grew and prospered, so did Perrin’s family. She was given eight grandchildren (Dennis, Capriece, Leigh, Bridget, Tulasi, Chase, Brady and MeganAnne) and later four great-grandchildren(Chelsea, Bailey, Sarah and Griffin), as well as two daughters-in-law, Susan and Jackie.
Perrin retired in 1997. She then gave her attention to traveling, gardening, reading, word-searches and her family.
Jackie wrote, “Illah was truly extraordinary. Her vision, her instincts, her logical mind and her creative spirit were packaged in a woman who was both physically and spiritually beautiful. She was loving, generous, strong and feminine; quick to smile, full of advice, courageous, pragmatic and wise.”
A celebration of Perrin’s life will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Conejo Mountain Funeral & Memorial Park, located at 2052 Howard Road in Camarillo.