Obituary for Joseph Purvis

Joseph Carl Purvis

June 17, 1931 – July 2, 2019

Joseph C. Purvis, age 88, longtime resident of Ponca City, passed away Tuesday, July 2, 2019 in Ponca City.

The family will have a private remembrance ceremony at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory.

Joseph was born on June 17, 1931 to Ralph and Sadie Powell Purvis in Hutchinson, Kansas, one of 12 children. He lived in Hutchinson before moving to Nardin as an 11 year old to work with his aunt and uncle on the farm. Joe stayed on the farm was raised by William and Beulah Powell, who adopted him into their family. He graduated from Blackwell High School in 1949. After high school, Joe was drafted into the U.S. Army; serving during the Korean Conflict. Following his honorable discharge, Joe attended college in Okmulgee, attaining an associates degree in accounting. On Joe’s 25th birthday, June 17, 1956, Joanna Sue Hudson became his wife. They celebrated nearly 60 years of marriage before her passing in 2016. A lifelong passion of Joe’s was baseball. Joe played in high school and college. He umpired little league and enjoyed watching baseball every chance he could. Joe worked as an accountant for Conoco and at times served overseas on their behalf. He and Joanna enjoyed the time they spent living in Tripoli, Libya and traveling around Europe. After Joseph and Joanna retired, they bought a fifth wheel travel trailer and spent many days traveling across the USA with their friends.

Survivors include his son, Joseph P. Purvis and wife Beth of Ponca City, daughter, Teresa Funkhouser and husband Bob of Goodyear, AZ, grand children, Andrea Fish of Harristown, PA, Tracie Fish of Chicago, IL, Alex Hawley of Santa Cruz, CA, and Thomas Hawley of Littleton, CA, and great grandchildren Abram, Atlas, and Archer Hageman.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and numerous siblings.

Source: Trout Funeral Home