Robert Purvis Sr.
Robert “Archie” Purvis Sr. husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother-in-law, uncle, great-uncle, cousin, friend to all and a member of the Greatest Generation passed peacefully from this life to the next on Saturday, June 5, 2021, at the age of 95.
Known by many as Archie, he leaves behind his wife of 72 years, Arlene Bonzo Purvis; six children, Robert Jr. (Debbie) of Cooke City, Mont., Vicki Smith (David) of Homer City, Pa., Samuel (Paula) of Evans City, Timothy of Cody, Wyo., Beverly Purvis of Cody, Wyo., and Jennifer Bowers (James) of Evans City; 20 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
Archie was the son of Merle and Caroline Purvis of Evans City. Together with his father, they created Purvis & Sons Drilling, a water well drilling company. Many people in the Evans City/Mars area owe their abundant fresh water supply to the efforts of Archie and his dad. The two also owned and operated the Evans City Bowling Alley for many years. They loved being surrounded by good people having fun. Archie's “real job” was with Mine Safety Appliances, where he worked for 40-plus years, retiring in 1991. Retirement to Archie meant having a second career helping his son, Bob, and later his grandson, Zachary, run Black Knight Chimney. In his 80s, at the request of his son-in-law, Jimmy Bowers, he went to work at Benshaw mentoring young workers.
On Jan. 11, 1944, Robert Leroy Purvis enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He proudly served his country in the Pacific theater from Aug. 14, 1944, to May 9, 1946, seeing action in Okinawa, Saipan, and finally participating in the occupation of Japan at Nagasaki from Sept. 23, 1945, to April 25, 1946. Military service and the horrors of war helped to define his life as one of compassion, love of country and family. Once a Marine, always a Marine — Semper Fi.Purvis Sr. — Visitation for Robert “Archie” Purvis Sr., who died Saturday, June 5, 2021, will be held from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Boylan Funeral Home and Cremation Center of Connoquenessing Township, 865 Evans City Road, Renfrew.A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with the Rev. James R. Bertoti, officiating.He will be laid to rest at Evans City Cemetery.Memorial donations may be made to Team Recon and Sniper Foundation at www.reconsniperfoundation.org, or to The Evans City Library.Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.boylanfuneralservices.com.
