George W Purvis, Jr

George W. Purvis September 11, 1917 – March 30, 2007 George W. Purvis, Jr. of Waco passed away at 12:35 am March 30th at his home. A visitation will be held Sunday, April 1st from 5PM-7PM at the Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home located at 6101 Bosque Boulevard in Waco. A celebration of his life will be held on Monday, April 2nd at 11:30 AM at First United Methodist Church located at 4901 Cobbs Drive, Waco, Texas 76710 with Stephen Ramsdell officiating. George was born September 11, 1917 in Comanche County, near Proctor, Texas to George W. Purvis, Sr. and Maggie Ewing Purvis. He attended school in Gustine and Comanche, Texas where he was active in athletics. He lettered in football and track, was captain of his high school track team and was awarded an athletic scholarship to Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. After leaving Southwestern, George attended the Stamps Baxter School of Music in Dallas where he studied voice, music composition and music theory. He sang tenor in a quartet on KLRD radio station until a major medical operation ended his musical training. George was converted and found Jesus Christ our Lord at the age of thirteen. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Waco and a past president for the Odell Dudley Sunday School class. George sang in the choir at St. John’s Methodist church for almost 20 years. He directed the choir and led the congregational singing at Brookview Methodist for eight years and later joined First Methodist Church where he also sang in the choir. George was also a member of the Masonic Lodge #92, The Scottish Rite, The Karem Shrine and Waco Rotary Club. He is a former director of Texas National Bank and was one of the first directors of Automotive Wholesalers of Texas-AWOT. George served in the US Air Force during World War II, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant. He served two and half years in Europe during his service. After the war he came to Waco and went into business with his brother Cecil C. Purvis who is now deceased. Under the name of Purvis Bros. Automotive Wholesale the business flourished and in 1950 the business expanded to include industrial bearings and power transmission products and converted to Purvis Bearing Service. In 1954, George founded Puremco Mfg. Co., which manufactured primarily dominoes as well as other games. George designed and built all of the machines and processes used at Puremco Mfg. Co., as well as machines and applications for many of the bearing customers. Purvis Bearing Service has grown to 35 locations throughout Texas and Arkansas. George and Billie Reeves were married on October 19, 1946 in Waco. They have two children, Jan Purvis Edwards and Robert W. Purvis. George’s work was his life’s hobby as well as being an avid world traveler and an accomplished guitarist. During his life George and Billie traveled to 68 countries, visiting many of them several times. George is survived by his wife of 60 years, Billie; his daughter, Jan Purvis Edwards and husband, Tim Edwards, of Colleyville; his son, Robert W. Purvis and wife, Gail Purvis of Dallas. He is also survived by his sister, Dorothy Mansell of Waco; his grandchildren, Trent Edwards and wife, Andrea, Angela Edwards Xavier, Ami Edwards, Jennifer Edwards Kohan and husband, Andrew, Erin Purvis Jordan and husband, James, Ashley Purvis Johnson and husband, Jeremiah Johnson, Rian Purvis; and great grandchildren, Grant, Cooper, Gracie, Noah, Zoë, and Lauren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Aldersgate Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 1406, Brownwood, TX 76804-1406, the McLennan Community College Scholarship Fund or the charity of your choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey