Wanda V. Purviance
Wanda V. Purviance, 99, passed away peacefully at her home in St. Peters, Mo., with her family and beloved dog “Tyson” nearby, after five days of hospice care.
Her life spanned just shy of the century mark and was shaped by the Great Depression and World War II. During her life she bore witness to monumental change from technological achievements and social advancement.
Born the former Wanda Victoria Elwood at the old Newt and Fannie Adams Place in rural Pike County, MO, she was the daughter of Mack Sylvester Elwood and Victoria Elizabeth Hanson.
Wanda was a woman of many interests. She was a poet, chronicler of family history, an avid collector of antiques and old books, and a matriarch to a loving and extended family. As the eldest granddaughter of Frank and Sadie Hanson, she enjoyed the privilege of being referred to as “Aunt Wanda” by most of many cousins.
Wanda’s early years of schooling took place at Concord, Vannoy and Tuscumba schools in rural Missouri. She continued schooling in California after her family moved there for work during the depression, attending Coalinga High and eventually graduating from Grant Union High School in Sacramento.
After returning to Missouri, Wanda worked as an operator for Southwestern Bell in St. Louis and graduated from Rubicam Business School. She then enjoyed a career as a secretary around the city. Later, she was primarily a homemaker, raising four boys, and helped her husband Lloyd run Easy Play Tennis Courts.
On October 1, 1941 she was wed to Robert Allen Murphy in Carson City, Nev. They divorced in May 1944. She then married Lloyd Dorris Eaton on July 6, 1947 in Bowling Green, MO. He died June 14, 1986. Her last marriage was to Richard Allen Purviance whom she married on November 5, 1996 in Las Vegas, Nev. He died August 19, 2012.
Wanda was a member of Calvary Church in St. Peters, and a member of the Calvary ENCORE 50+ Adult Ministry.
In addition to her parents and husbands, Wanda was preceded in death by a son Gregory Scott Eaton and a brother Mack John Elwood III.
Left to mourn her passing are three sons, Daniel Allen (Sharon) Murphy of Columbia, IL, Terry LaMont (Ardyth) Eaton of Lyman, Wyo., and Kenton Lloyd (Pamela) Eaton of St. Louis, MO. Also surviving are three grandchildren, Starla Oxford-Grisham (Raymond), Michael Colin Murphy, and Rachel Colleen Victoria Azzara (Blaise III); also the following great-grandchildren: Blaise Azzara IV, Zoe Azzara, Heath Patterson, Kyle Patterson, Lacy Poole, Tiffany Hovland, Annette Johnson, and Terry Jo Oxford. Beloved Great-Great Grandmother, Aunt, Cousin and friend to all.
Services for Wanda V. Purviance, are as follows: On Thurs., May 25, 2023, a Memorial Service will be held at Calvary Church’s South Chapel (3998 Mid Rivers Mall Dr., St. Peter’s, MO 63376) at 11 a.m. with luncheon at Church to follow. Graveside services will be held the next day at the Concord Cemetery near Bowling Green, MO on Fri., May 26, 2023, at 1 p.m. followed by a gathering at the Curryville Presbyterian Church for cake, pie and coffee.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to benefit the Concord Cemetery, C/O Gary Chamberlain, 9261 Pike 477, Bowling Green, MO 63334.
We are really gonna miss her, wish we could have spent more time with her thru the years. God bless you all, prayers and hugs for all of you
What a beautiful tribute to one amazing lady. Going to miss you Miss Wanda. Prayers and hugs for your family.
M
Our beautiful inspiration friend Wanda you will be in our heart for ever and ever.We love love you Wanda. Richard and Betty Schooley
I will always miss my dearest Wanda. A woman of God, a spiritual mother to me, a friend, a poet who encouraged me to write. We are missing you at Bible study. I love you dear Wanda and we will meet again one day. Love,
My Dear Wanda
I miss your beautiful smile and loving nature, especially all the times we spent together laughing, reading scripture stories and talking at the kitchen table. I know you are at home with our Abba Father and Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
We will see you again in Heaven We miss you so much!! 💕💕💕
My Grandmother, Wanda, was a soulmate growing up and that continued into adulthood. Two weeks before she passed the family gathered at Easter and I cherish that time. Her last words to me were “you need to hold on for awhile longer”, as I’m battling stage 4 cancer. She couldn’t stand losing me. But grandma, we can’t stand losing you. I’ll see you again.
O’le how I miss you so,so much! You have been my mother for over 2.5 decades and I truly will never forget you. You have giving me the drive or nerve to “tell it like it is”! She was a hoot, as she would describe. You know she was persistent in getting knowledgeable on the internet, she would sit down with me doing shorthand taking notes. That showed me she definetly was determined to master her quest! She told many times I was her daughter she never had, made me proud.
Dan Murphy (her 1st son) he took care of her on a consistent basis until her demise. Would have loved to see her one more time, but heaven is waiting with open arms until we meet again!
Loving you, as she would say!
Its ennefitable to find words how amazing this woman was , not only as a human being but her skills and memory for were most of us would never make it that far , she was 99 yrs old mayswell say a millennial and had the mind of a 20 yr old , it truly was and still is amazing to me , sharp as a tack !!!you will live in my heart forever and may you be renuited with your third son(greg) in heaven, to all her sons ,Kenton ,Terri, and Dan ,my heart goes out to all of you …may she fly high and rest in peace , love u grandma …no step Gigi about it , I know hendrix is a Lil clouded and dont understand but with your love and your loving 👐 hands from above I know he will never not remember or have to think twice January to december to remember your soul with all ur advice Xoxoxo Gigi you will be missed ,just another name to cross off gods list!!!!love u dearly wanda face ….she always called everyone face at the end of their names ,this pains me ..
I loved my Wanda. Sassy, Feisty, determined, strong, talented, loving, caring. She loved our Lord and loved all her friends and family deeply. I am missing our talks, our laughs, our phone calls, our hugs, our times together. Love and prayers go out for her boys and their families.
Cute and adorable lady, met her a couple of times.
My love and Prayers for my old friend Kenton.