PURVIANCE, Lucille
Lucille Purviance, born (Ida Lucille Mankamyer) December 15, 1920 in Myersdale, Pennsylvania. Lucille Purviance passed away, Thursday, April 27, at her home, at the age of 89. Lucille, a resident of Freedom Plaza, Sun City Center, had a long and interesting life with her husband, Captain Raymond E. Purviance, Jr. While her husband was commissioned by the U.S. Navy, she and her husband lived in many diverse places, including, Oslo, Norway, Naples, Italy, Honolulu, New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, San Diego and Coronado, California, Miami, Akron and Columbus, Ohio, Atlanta, Norfolk and Springfield, Virginia, Ann Arbor and many other places, finally settling in Tierra Verde, Florida.
When Lucille was a young girl, she loved to play popular and classical music on the piano. She also played and excelled at baseball. She also loved visiting her grandmother Caler from Myersdale, PA, on the large farm. She was particularly close to her Aunt Mary and uncle Dorsey Faucett from Latrobe, Pa., visiting them often as well as her Aunt Esther and uncle Harold Bean and cousins Anna, Dick and Mary in Washington, D.C. Her high school friends included Jeanne DeVeau and Mary Wymar, all attending Bechtel High School in Akron.
Lucille always loved to work, whether as an employee or as a volunteer. In her early years, Lucille attended Akron Business College and, before marrying Raymond Ernest Purviance, Jr., (August 20,1943), she worked at Yaegers Department store and the Saalfield Publishing Company (known for publishing children’s books), both businesses in Akron, Ohio. During WWII, her husband served on board a Submarine Chaser in the Pacific, assuming command of the ship in February, 1945. While he served overseas during the war, Lucille worked for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, and also volunteered for the Red Cross. Later, in Hawaii, because she loved helping people pick out clothes, she worked in the Hawaiian Dress Shop Boutique in Honolulu. She also modeled for the store and when she lived in New York, she worked at Saks Fifth Avenue, in Garden City. After her husband’s retirement, Lucille took a part time job working at John Baldwin’s Ladies Boutique in the Don Cesar resort hotel in St. Pete’s Beach and much later she was a volunteer in the gift shop at the Fine Arts Museum in St. Petersburg.
Also, in the ‘40s, Lucille, with Ray’s deep-hearted consent, wanted to adopt Diane, her brother’s child, who was, under the circumstances, up for adoption. In the end, however, Lucille’s mother and father got custody and adopted Diane. Lucille loved Diane deeply and spent much time with her. It was always one of Lucille’s biggest heartbreaks that Diane was not her child. Lucille and Diane’s mother and father separated when Diane was about five years old and divorced two years later. Diane and her mother moved to Washington, D.C. when she was ten and remained there until Diane married at 18.
Most importantly, Lucille was a devoted mother to her only daughter, Patricia, born in 1951, whom she adored her entire life. Lucille’s entire focus from then on was for her beloved daughter, whom she and her husband enjoyed and provided with a wonderful life of travel and education.
At Port Hueneme, California, Lucille was very active in the Navy Officers Wives organizations and was a member of the Episcopal Church, had also at one time been a Brownie Scout leader. She also enjoyed skiing, especially while living in Norway. She and her husband attended monthly get-togethers and luncheons of the Retired officers Club of St. Petersburg, the Navy League of the United States and the St. Petersburg Power Squadron as well as numerous affairs at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. Also, Lucille owned and loved many dogs, but especially she loved her Shelties, of which she had many over the years.
Lucille and her husband Ray had the opportunity to take long trips and cruises, seeing mostly all of Europe and its capitals, including London, Paris, Montreaux, Rome, Naples, Madrid, Seville, Cadiz, Lisbon, as well as the sights of Southern France and the Swiss Alps. When her husband was Nation Control Officer for Italy, Sicily and Sardenia, Lucille accompanied him on overnight trips to Genoa, Turin, Livorno, Pisa, Milan, Venice, Verona, Florence and Brindisi. While their daughter attended The University of Maryland Munich, Germany Campus, they saw Leichtenstein and Austria, Athens and Copenhagen and many more destinations.
Later, when Lucille and Ray lived in Tierra Verde they did extensive cruising throughout the Caribbean, including visits to, among many destinations, Mexico, Panama, Aruba, Venezuela, many South American ports, St. Lucia, St. John and many islands. They also loved spending time in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.
Lucille’s husband Ray passed on October 22, 1995, after which Lucille moved to Freedom Plaza, Sun City Center, where she continued to be very active in the community and where she made many friends. Lucille spent her last eight years with Clarke Olson, close friend and companion. Lucille travelled with Clarke to visit family and t hey also took cruises from Tampa and enjoyed other trips, often sponsored by Freedom Plaza. She and Clarke attended local concerts and events and enjoyed Sun City Center and the surrounding area. Lucille will be missed and will be remembered for her warmth, friendship, wonderful sense of humor and the high integrity so characteristic of WWII Navy wives.
Lucille’s daughter, Patricia Moraway, of Thomaston, Georgia, preceded Lucille in death in February 2010. She is survived by granddaughter, Sara Roper, of Macon, Georgia; grandson, D’Arcy Roper, of Chantilly, Virginia; and several great grandchildren. A memorial service is planned for 10:00 A.M. at the Freedom Plaza Auditorium, 1010 American Eagle Boulevard, Sun City Center, Friday, May 21 Information: (813) 633-4467.
