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Eugene William "Bill" Purdy passed away on June 19, 2012, at Peterson Regional Medical Center in Kerrville, TX. He was born to E.W. "Gene" Purdy and Katherine Powell Purdy on March 19, 1923, in Salina, OK. The family later moved to Tahlequah, OK, where Bill graduated high school and attended Northeastern State College, until the outbreak of the second world war. In 1942, he joined the US Navy Air Corps and was a Naval pilot until December 1945. After military service, he enrolled at Oklahoma A&M College, graduating in January 1949 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Upon graduation, he was employed by Humble Oil and Refining Company (now Exxon/Mobil), as a Petroleum Engineer in production and retired from the company in 1983, after 35 years of service. He married Louise Cole Purdy on June 17, 1944, in the Chapel of the Pines on the US Naval Air Station in Norfolk, VA. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers. He is survived by his wife, Louise; one nephew, Ken Purdy of Tahlequah, OK; four nieces, Beth Cohenour of Claremore, OK, Elizabeth Jardine of Muskogee, OK, Betty Jackson of Phoenix, AZ, and Eloise Stewart of San Antonio, TX; and several great nieces and nephews. Bill attended Trinity Baptist Church and loved his association with the church and participation in the Ambassador Sunday School Class. He especially treasured his friendships with class members. An avid golfer, Bill also had a life-long enjoyment of hunting and flying. He was a member of the Quiet Birdmen Organization (a group of retired pilots) and as an aviator, his death represents his last "departure to the west", with his destination being Heaven. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, June 26, 2012, at 10:00 a.m., at Grimes Funeral Chapels in Kerrville. Internment will be in Tahlequah, OK. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Peterson Hospice. Condolences may be sent: grimesfuneralchapels.com by selecting the "Send Condolences" link. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Kerrville.
Published in Midland Reporter-Telegram on June 21, 2012
