Leon Puritz

Leon Puritz

AGE: 96 • Orlando

On Tuesday, July 14, Leon Puritz passed away peacefully in the good hands of the compassionate aides at Rose Court and Willow Tree Hospice. Born in New Brunswick, N.J. and a long-time resident of Orlando, Florida, he ended a full life at age 96, and left this world as quietly as he had lived in it. He was a responsible, private, kind, sweet, ethical, honorable, gentleman who enjoyed making and flying model airplanes, bowling, riding his bike and walking, eating ice cream, fixing anything that was broken, reading non-fiction historical accounts about the war and solving Sudoku and crossword puzzles.

Leon proudly served his country as an Aviation Machinist's Mate Second Class, from 1942 until 1946, and demonstrated his patriotism by raising the flag in his yard on every national holiday. During his service, he earned an Asiatic Pacific Ribbon, Phillipine Liberation Ribbon, American Theater Ribbon and a Good Conduct medal. Like so many other members of the Greatest Generation, he came home and dedicated himself to earning a living, in his case, as a radioisotope lab worker for ER Squibb and a flight instructor, and supporting and raising a family with the same resolution that had compelled him to do his duty abroad.

The last of the six siblings in the family, he leaves behind, to cherish his memory, his wife of 67 years, Rita Puritz, of Maris Grove, PA, his daughter Lynn Puritz-Fine (Allen), son Jeffrey (Marguerite), grandchildren Emily Anne Wentzell (Adam) and Joshua Wentzell (Esther), and the sons and daughters of his brothers and their children. We are thrilled that he was able to meet his brand new great-grandson Elliot through the photographs we showed him.

A gravesite service will be held on Tuesday, July 18, at 11:00 at Edgewood Memorial Park, 325 Baltimore Pike, Glen Mills, PA. A reception for family and friends will follow at 12:15 at Maris Grove, 200 Maris Grove Way, Glen Mills, PA.

The family would like to thank the staff of Rose Court (especially Eugene, Marilyn and Joy) for their kindness and care of Leon in this last difficult year, and Willow Tree Hospice (especially Lynn and Dawn) for their competent and kind support of us in the last months. In lieu of flowers, friends who wish to honor Leon can send donations to the Maris Grove Benevolent Fund.