Services for Frederick Edwin Purifoy, 74, of Houston, were held Jan. 12, 2013, at the Mulhearn Funeral Home Chapel, Sterlington Road, in Monroe, La., with Rev. Warren Eckhardt officiating. Private interment was held at Loch Arbor Baptist Church Cemetery.
Purifoy was born March 15, 1938, in Camden, Ark., to Lottie Hare and Lloyd Ogden Purifoy, and died Jan. 8, 2013, at the Methodist Hospital in Houston.
He was reared in Monroe, La., and graduated from Ouachita Parish High School in 1956.
After serving four years in the Navy, he earned a bachelors degree in physics and math from Northeast Louisiana University.
He spent 20 years serving his country in the U.S. Air Force and retired as a captain. He taught physics and math for 10 years in Texas at Malakoff High School and North Zulch High School.
He lived in Houston after retiring and enjoyed gardening, cooking, sailing and traveling. He will be remembered as a loving husband and father.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Elena Zhurina; daughters Cynthia Johnson and husband Jay, Melanie Schickel and husband Ralph, Katrina Purifoy; sons Craig Purifoy and wife Dania, Frederick Purifoy Jr.; and granddaughters Riley and Reagan Johnson.