Eugene E. Purdy, age 86, passed away at 3:52 a.m. on June 17, 2015, at Lima Memorial Health System.
Gene was born Nov. 10, 1928, in Lima, to Kenneth and Imogene (Weagly) Purdy, who preceded him in death.
On Oct. 16, 1954, he married Eloise Tong Purdy, who survives in Spencerville.
Gene was a 1946 graduate of the Shawnee High School. After high school, he joined the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War from 1950 until 1952.
After he had finished serving his country, he attended and graduated from Otterbein College, Westerville, with a bachelor’s degree in history. He then attended the United Theological Seminary, where he received his master’s degree.
Gene then spent the next 37 years preaching God’s word at six different churches, including Findlay Salem EUB, Springboro EUB, North Bend EUB, Minerva Park UMC, Circleville UMC and Whitehall UMC, until he retired in 1994.
Gene enjoyed woodworking and motorcycles and always had ongoing projects. He also was an avid photographer. Gene enjoyed the fellowship of his buddies at McDonald’s on Cable Road.
Gene is survived by four sons, Dale S. (Susan) Purdy of Columbus, Eric H. Purdy of Mansfield, Karl S. (Shelly) Purdy of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Nathan E. (Lisa) Purdy of Mansfield; seven grandchildren, Daniel Purdy, Rachael Kruse, Camille (Dameon) Kashafsky, Kenneth J. Purdy, Effie Purdy, Theodore E. Purdy and Aristide Purdy; four great-grandchildren, Alexandria Kashafsky, Dawn Kashafsky, Beth Kashafsky and Norman Jayce Riffe; two sisters-in-law, Shirley Purdy of Midland, Michigan, and Sharon Purdy of Spencerville; two former daughters-in-law, Cindy Leonard and Aphrodite “Effie” Purdy.
Gene was preceded in death by a brothers, Paul M. Purdy and Lee A. Purdy.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 20, 2015, at the Shawnee Community Methodist Church. Officiating the service will be Rev. Bryan Bucher. Burial of cremated remains will be in the Spencerville Cemetery at a later date. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 19, 2015, at the Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation Services, Shawnee Chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Shawnee Community Methodist Church.
Condolences may be expressed at chiles-lamanfh.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pickaway News Journal
