Ronald (Ron) Purdy
1938-04-08 2015-03-28
Ronald Hughes Purdy, age 76 of Calhoun, passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at his residence.
Ron was born on April 8, 1938 in Abbington, PA to James H. and Florine Summerfield Purdy. He was raised in Yardley, PA with three brothers, Jimmy, Bob and Barry and one sister, Lynn. He graduated from Pennsbury High School. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and lettered in wrestling. He served in the U.S. Army and rose to the rank of E5 as a head financial officer at Fort Stewart. He then graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Master’s Degree in Mathematics from Georgia Southern.
Ron coached football, basketball, wrestling, baseball, tennis, diving and swimming. He was a charter member of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church where he held the office of treasurer and as a member of the vestry. He loved playing golf, swimming, sun bathing, coin collecting, math, watching UNC sports, spending time with his granddaughters, singing and dancing. Ron was a teacher for 32 years in Georgia and South Carolina. He was a honor recipient of the Golden Apple Teacher of the Month Award, a member of the Professional Associating of Georgia’s Education, Attendant of 15 Georgia Mathematics Conferences, head swimming coach of Calhoun Swimming Barracudas and Post Road Pool Swim Team, athletic director in Villa Rica and Calhoun, head coach for football, basketball, wrestling, baseball, tennis and swimming.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Wall Purdy of Calhoun; two sons, Hunt Purdy and his wife Tracy and Roger W. Purdy and his wife Karen; daughter, Louise Purdy; two granddaughters, Kirtland Purdy and Georgia Pardon; brother, James H. Purdy III; and several nieces and nephews also survive.
Memorial Services will be held from the Calhoun First United Methodist Church (205 East Line St.) on Saturday, April 11th at 5:00 PM with Father Louis Tonsmeire officiating.
The family will receive friends an hour prior to the Memorial Service.
In lieu of flowers contributions to the Ron Purdy Memorial Scholarship can be made to the Calhoun Education Foundation c/o Calhoun City Schools, 380 Barrett Road, Calhoun, GA 30701.
Ron was born on April 8, 1938 in Abbington, PA to James H. and Florine Summerfield Purdy. He was raised in Yardley, PA with three brothers, Jimmy, Bob and Barry and one sister, Lynn. He graduated from Pennsbury High School. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and lettered in wrestling. He served in the U.S. Army and rose to the rank of E5 as a head financial officer at Fort Stewart. He then graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Master’s Degree in Mathematics from Georgia Southern.
Ron coached football, basketball, wrestling, baseball, tennis, diving and swimming. He was a charter member of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church where he held the office of treasurer and as a member of the vestry. He loved playing golf, swimming, sun bathing, coin collecting, math, watching UNC sports, spending time with his granddaughters, singing and dancing. Ron was a teacher for 32 years in Georgia and South Carolina. He was a honor recipient of the Golden Apple Teacher of the Month Award, a member of the Professional Associating of Georgia’s Education, Attendant of 15 Georgia Mathematics Conferences, head swimming coach of Calhoun Swimming Barracudas and Post Road Pool Swim Team, athletic director in Villa Rica and Calhoun, head coach for football, basketball, wrestling, baseball, tennis and swimming.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Wall Purdy of Calhoun; two sons, Hunt Purdy and his wife Tracy and Roger W. Purdy and his wife Karen; daughter, Louise Purdy; two granddaughters, Kirtland Purdy and Georgia Pardon; brother, James H. Purdy III; and several nieces and nephews also survive.
Memorial Services will be held from the Calhoun First United Methodist Church (205 East Line St.) on Saturday, April 11th at 5:00 PM with Father Louis Tonsmeire officiating.
The family will receive friends an hour prior to the Memorial Service.
In lieu of flowers contributions to the Ron Purdy Memorial Scholarship can be made to the Calhoun Education Foundation c/o Calhoun City Schools, 380 Barrett Road, Calhoun, GA 30701.
Wow, Coach Ron Purdy was a man I both loved and hated. The hate was simply because he pushed me to limits I myself did not want to go. He pushed me through mud, cold and personal, physical pain. He was there for me in my sporting life at CHS in football and wrestling. Coach Purdy anlong with his coaching staff, molded a young boy into a man. So many times I have looked back to reflect on the lessons learned through that time know had I not had men like Coach Purdy in my life there is no way of knowing where I might have ended up. From Coach Ron Purdy I know I learned to push through simply because I am pissed off if for no other reason.
tribute by Bernard King