Richard Wayne Purk, 59, of DeGraff, died at 4:40 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, 2007, at Heartland of Urbana.
The son of the late Wilbur Ray and Pauline LaVerne Thomas Purk, he was born May 30, 1947, in Bellefontaine.
He is survived by five daughters, Amy Purk of Huntsville, Mandy (Jack) Smith of Waynesville and Kristin (Travis) Burchett, Ilona Purk and Nicole Purk, all of DeGraff; one brother, William R. Purk of Bellefontaine; one sister, Betty L. Reames of East Liberty; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one sister, Barbara A. Purk.
A 1965 graduate of Riverside High School, he was a Vietnam War veteran, having served in the United States Marine Corps. He returned to DeGraff in 1969 and served the local community until 1999 as a member of the DeGraff Fire Department, Riverside Emergency Medical Squad and the DeGraff Village Council.
He also served the village as mayor for one term and chief of the police department. He was a past commander of the Miami Valley Post 652 American Legion, DeGraff, and was a former member of the VFW. He was employed at Navistar International in Springfield for 33 years.
The funeral is at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Rexer-Riggin-Madden Funeral Home, DeGraff, where calling is from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and an hour prior to the service. Burial is in the Greenwood-Union Cemetery, DeGraff.
Memorial donations may be made to charities of the donors’ choices.
