Gene Ashton Purvis ’49

Gene Ashton Purvis ’49, a resident of Belhaven, N.C., died Feb. 26 at Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville, N.C. Mr. Purvis was born in Belhaven on Nov. 21, 1928, son of the late Julius H. and Sophronia Topping Purvis. He was a 1945 graduate of John A. Wilkinson High School in Belhaven. He served his country as a communications technician 2nd Class in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. Following his military service, Mr. Purvis attended Davidson College from 1945–47. He earned his B.S. and M.A. degrees from East Carolina University and continued his Ph.D. studies at UNC Chapel Hill and the University of Northern Colorado. Mr. Purvis was a teacher at John A. Wilkinson High School and served as principal from 1957–61. Following his high school teaching career, he transferred to Atlantic Christian College, now Barton College, as an associate professor from 1961 until his retirement in 1988. Survivors include a brother, Julius Henry Purvis, Jr. (Barbara), 371 Lamont St., Belhaven, NC 27810-1615; a niece, Julie P. Robinson; and her son, Casey.