Graveside Funeral Services with full military honors will be held at 1:00pm on Monday, January 3, 2022, in the Mt. Horeb Church Cemetery for Major William R. Purvis, USMC (Ret.). Major Purvis, age 90, passed away from this life on October 25, 2021, at his residence in Tustin, CA. Reverend Glenn Shoemake will officiate.

Wade Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

William Reece Purvis was born on December 23, 1930, in Covington County to Jessie Monroe Purvis and Minnie Lee Lott Purvis. Major Purvis was a decorated Marine Aviator, certified in both fixed wing (airplanes) and rotary wing (helicopters). His service spanned the Korean War and the Vietnam War. As a helicopter pilot, Major Purvis flew hundreds of missions in Vietnam. After retirement from the Marine Corps, Mr. Purvis was a procurement officer for the Huntington Beach Union High School District in Huntington Beach, CA. Mr. Purvis retired from the school district after 20 years of service.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father; his wife, Delores Lorraine Purvis; 1 brother, Charles Franklin Purvis; and 2 sisters, Dorothy Lee Simpson and Evelyn Odell Usry.

Survivors are his son, Chris Purvis of Tustin, CA; and 1 brother, James Kenneth Purvis (Betty) of Enterprise; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.

The visitation will be Monday from 11:30am until 12:30pm at Wade Funeral Home.