Upon returning home from the battlefields of World War II, T-Sgt. Ernest Perkins began the next chapter of his life with the same quiet strength and resolve that had carried him through the war. On February 25, 1948, he married Myrta Elizabeth Leach in Litchfield, New Hampshire. Together, they built a family rooted in love and resilience raising six children: four sons and two daughters. Their family would grow to include eight grandchildren, carrying forward his legacy to the next generation.

Ernie remained connected to the bonds forged during the war. He and his wife attended at least one 605th Tank Destroyer Battalion reunion in Ohio, where he reunited with fellow veterans, including his wartime comrade and friend, "Pop" Holst. That reconnection was so meaningful that the family later visited Pop at his home in Upstate New York just one example of how deep the camaraderie ran among the men of the 605th.

T-Sgt. Ernest Fletcher passed away on November 1, 1981, in Laconia, New Hampshire. His memory lives on through his children and grandchildren, and through the stories shared by his second son, Jeffrey L. Perkins, Sr., who honors his father's service and sacrifice by helping preserve the history of the 605th Tank Destroyer Battalion.