Victoria Purgason

GREENSBORO — Victoria Watts Purgason died at Friends Home on Sunday, March 21.

The funeral will be held in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Greensboro at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 26. After the service, family and friends are invited to 2808 Lake Forest Drive to visit with the Purgason family.

Victoria was the daughter of the late Claude and Nola Watts of Taylorsville, N.C. She graduated from Brevard College and Appalachian State University. Victoria met Howard Purgason at Brevard and they were married December 26, 1941. She taught and coached girls' basketball in Wentworth and Durham. After the war they moved to Greensboro and began their family.

An active member of First Baptist Church Greensboro, she was involved with WMU, Bible Studies, and taught 6th grade Sunday school for15 years. In addition to serving her church, she served the community as a member of the Symphony Guild, on the Young Life Committee of Greensboro, as a Boy Scout and Girl Scout leader and as a volunteer at Moses Cone Hospital for over twenty five years.

Victoria was very creative winning numerous blue ribbons for her sewing, cooking, crafts, and canning. Always interested in learning, she took classes to acquire new and creative skills. Each of her children and grandchildren has fond memories of unique costumes, formal attire, and play things she created to enrich their childhoods. She made her home a special environment for her family.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by six brothers and sisters and her second born child, William Howard Purgason, Jr.

Survivors include her children Beth and Les Whicker of Hickory, Ken and Lynn Purgason of Summerfield, Ed and Susan Purgason, Helen and Ellis Vaughan of Budapest, Hungary, and Amy and Billy Chamblee. Her fourteen grandchildren; Sharon and Doug Bremer and their children (great grand) Sophie and Chase; Chris Whicker and Naomi Shropshire; Carrie, Rob, and Molly Purgason; Katy, Will and Mitchell Purgason; Seth, Tori, and Samuel Vaughan; Kate, Jenna, and Lauren Chamblee. Also surviving is her sister, Lillian Watts Halter of Washington, DC.

Victoria leaves a legacy of faith in Jesus Christ. Her quiet, servant heart touched many lives, especially her family. She is remembered for her kind words to describe others, her thankfulness, and how she took what the day afforded and made the best of it without complaining.

While Victoria loved flowers, it would have been her wish that money would go to help others. For those interested in giving a memorial, please send them to First Baptist Church Greensboro, 1000 W. Friendly Ave., Greensboro, NC 27403; Young Life of Greensboro, 1816 Pembroke Rd. Greensboro, NC 27408; Greensboro Pregnancy Care Center,917 N. Elm St, Greensboro, NC 27401; or Friends Home. 925 New Garden Rd., Greensboro, NC 27410.

On line condolences may be sent to www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com