Don M. Purdy

Don Purdy was born on Feb. 15, 1923 at home on Hasis Road in Center Township. He died on June 24, 2012, at home in Celina. During the intervening 89 years, he made a difference in the lives of not just his family but of countless local residents.

His life was remarkable in so many respects. Don served his country in World War II. He served his children and grandchildren as a terrific father and grandfather. He served his clients as an attorney and served the Ohio Bar Association as an executive board member. He served his students as a college law instructor. And as a public official, he served his fellow citizens as both a Mercer County judge and Celina City School Board president.

Don was the son of Floyd and Ella (Miller) Purdy, who moved from their farm to Celina when Don began junior high school. He thrived in the classroom and upon graduation from Celina High School in 1940 was given an appointment to the Naval Academy, which Don declined in order to study engineering at Case Western Reserve University and later at Ohio University. However, after World War II began, Don enlisted in the Navy and was sent to officer training school at Northwestern University, earning the rank of Lt. Junior Grade.

Lt. Purdy was stationed in Miami, Fl., to await his overseas orders when he attended a servicemen's dance and met a beautiful young woman from Kankakee, IL. named Betty Jane Cline. She was to become his partner and companion for the next 67 years. They married on January 11, 1945, and honeymooned at a friend's nearby house before Don left for the Mediterranean theatre just days later.

After the war ended in September of that year, Don and Betty reunited and moved to Ada, Oh. where Don enrolled at Ohio Northern University to study law. He graduated with a juris doctor degree in 1949 and the couple returned to Celina, where Don joined a private law practice. In 1953, Ohio Gov. Frank Lausche appointed Don to the position of Mercer County Probate and Juvenile Judge. After nearly a decade on the bench, he resigned to join a Celina law practice with Don Short. Upon Mr. Short's passing, Don expanded the office to include other attorneys and eventually joined Tom Lammers and Louis Schiavone to form the firm of Purdy, Lammers and Schiavone, which still thrives.

Don's law practice, however, simply became his base of operations for many other community interests. He refereed local high school basketball games. He taught college business law at the Western Ohio Educational Foundation, the local predecessor to Wright State University's Grand Lake branch. He was elected to the Celina City Schools Board of Education during the planning and construction of the current high school building and served as the board's president for several years. He became president of the Mercer County Bar Association and later was named to the Ohio Bar Association's executive board (now board of governors). He served on the First National Bank of Celina's board of trustees. He was active in the local Democratic Party.

Don also enjoyed philanthropic activity as a member of the Lions' Club, the Elks' Club, the Toastmasters Club, the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. On vacations, Don and Betty loved to travel the world and experienced memorable trips to Europe, China and Alaska. At home, Don played golf and poker, while he and Betty socialized with a loyal group of friends whose weekly "Thursday Night" gatherings became legendary for their bonhomie, which is a fancy way of saying they were way too much fun. Following his retirement, Don and Betty lived in Fort Myers, Fl., and Sylvania, Oh. before moving back to Celina five years ago and reconnecting with former acquaintances. Don was a big fan of college football and college basketball, especially in the Big 10 conference, but he rooted hardest for his grandchildren's teams.

Don was survived by his lifelong sweetheart, Betty Jane, who passed away just 28 hours after him, as well as by his four children: Mark (Barb) Purdy of San Jose, Ca. Jayme (Jim) Karen of Dallas, TX. Lisa (Bill) Wade of Apple Valley, MN., and Michael Purdy of Fort Myers, Fl. Also surviving are six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Don was extremely proud that he lived long enough to see all six grandchildren receive college degrees. After he and Betty spent much of the past year residing at Miller House and Celina Manor, he chose to return home and passed away there with his loving children surrounding him.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers (Leroy, Angus and Clarence Purdy) and one sister (Juanita Purdy Waddel).

A joint Visitation for Don and Betty was held Thursday, June 28, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral services for Don were held Friday, June 29, at 10:30 a.m. at Bethany United Methodist Church in Celina, with visitation one hour prior to services at the church. The Rev. Jonathan Exman officiated.

A joint committal service for Don & Betty was held at St. Marys Cemetery in Celina, with military rites conducted by Celina American Legion Post #210 and Celina VFW Post #5713.

Memorial donations in memory of Don may be made to State of the Heart Hospice, 230 W. Main, Coldwater, Ohio 45828 or to the Northwest Ohio Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, 200 E. High St., 2nd Floor, Lima, Ohio 45801.

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