Purvis Nettleton

Life Legacy Purvis Middleton Nettleton of Tucson Arizona began his next beautiful journey on December 20th 2017 at the age of 98. Purvis is survived by his treasured daughter, Carol Wilburn (Keith), grandchildren, Neil Nettleton (Rachel), Sarah Nettleton, Nicholas Wilburn (Alyssa), Michael Nettleton, Samuel Wilburn, David Nettleton, daughters-in-law Elva Van Sant and Jean Nettleton, four great grandchildren, siblings Elizabeth Myracle, Mary Schultz, Eloise Schendel and Ernest Nettleton as well as many dear family and friends. He is survived by his beloved companion, Agnes Hannley, and by her family for whom he cared deeply. He and Agnes were inseparable from the time they met. It was comforting and inspiring to see the joy they brought one another. His wife of 50 years, Marjorie Nettleton, sons’ Henry and Alan Nettleton and sisters Peggy Burke and Elizabeth Ann Nettleton preceded Purvis in death. Purvis was born August 24, 1919 to Ernest B. and Annie T. Nettleton. He served in WWII as a combat engineer and after returning from war, graduated from Carnegie Tech. He worked for Hercules Inc. as a mechanical engineer for 33 years. Some of his best memories were of the times he worked and lived in Hercules CA. There he and Marge developed many life-long friends and pursued their love of hiking in the backcountry of the Sierra’s. They would take their children, Henry, Alan and Carol on grand adventures in Yosemite, Sequoia, and parts unknown. After retirement he and Marge spent winters in Tucson eventually moving there full-time in 1994. Purvis looked forward to visits from family and friends and loved to entertain them, whether it was preparing gourmet meals, hiking or taking long road trips. Purvis was known to brag on his grandchildren, relatives and friends, but a boastful word of himself was never heard. He loved his time with family, which may have been spent colluding with grandchildren on tasks or most especially having lunch each Friday with Carol. Purvis had a life well lived. He was a moral, dutiful, willful and uncommon man who continues to serve as an example to those of us who remain. He was the definition of gentleman.