Roland J. Purdy's Obituary
Roland J Purdy, was born on 10-24-1939 to John A and Evelyn Purdy, in Tacoma, WA. He was the oldest of 5 children. He spent his early years growing up in Orting, WA andmoved to Milton, WA in his late elementary years.
During high school he was involved in the Washington State National Guard during hissummer breaks. He graduated from Fife High School in 1958 and entered active duty in the Army that October. He then started working in the field of construction for United Homes, which is the same company his dad was working for. After which he started his own exterior stucco painting business, which didn’t go as well as he had hoped. In 1970 he went to work for St. Regis (aka: Champion and Simpson) in the Tacoma Tideflats and retired from there in 2004.
He met the love of his life in the summer of 1967. They had been neighbors for years but that summer she caught his eye and he rode his motorcycle across the road, and upthe yard, starting the beginning of a love story that lasted 58 plus years. They got married in March of 1968 and bought their one and only home at the same time. In 1970 they welcomed Katie to their family and then in 1971 they welcomed James.
Roland loved his family, friends, and pets. He had a gentle heart, strong faith, and great love for the Lord and a big desire in his heart that all of his grandchildren would experience a personal relationship with Jesus. He also enjoyed golfing with his dad, son, grandsons, and friends over the years until his health prevented him from golfing anymore. He loved reading western novels and listening to gospel, classic country, and oldies rock n roll music. He spent hours recording his vinyl records onto cassette tapes so that he could listen to them on his cassette player in the bedroom, in his truck, and anywhere else there was a cassette player or stereo.
He is survived by his wife, Linda; children Katie Green and James Purdy; grandchildren, Garrett Patterson (Emma), Rachel Johnsen (Austin & great-granddaughters Amelia and Sophie), Lauren Green (Jordan Fernandez), Audrey Green (Garrett Reed), and Nathaniel Purdy (Manayia); his sister Evelyn Collins; his brother Lloyd (Anita) Purdy; sister-in-law Patricia Anderson (Dave Wiley), and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son-in-law Scott Green, his parents John and Evelyn Purdy, his parents in law William and Marjorie Patterson, and his brothers George Purdy and Baby Arthur Purdy who died in infancy
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