James D. Purifoy

James D. Purifoy (J.D.), of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed Away February 3, 2014, at North Little Rock V.A. He was born February 14, 1924, in Genoa, Arkansas, to the late Roland and Mary Purifoy, he was also preceded in death by brothers, Edward, Charles (Hobo), Dempsey, Marshall (Lish) and Byron. Survived by: wife of 66 years, Virginia (Jean) Swicegood Purifoy, one daughter Pamala (Charles) Capehart of Olathe, Kansas; two sons, Jim (Becky) Purifoy of Lee's Summit, Missouri; and Kevin (Pat) Purifoy of Little Rock, Arkansas; two granddaughters, Amanda Capehart of Overland Park, Kansas and Lindsay Capehart of Kansas City, Missouri; two grandsons, Nick (Erin) Purifoy of Kansas City, Missouri, and Alex Purifoy of Brooklyn, New York; sisters, Vera Mills, Viola Ward, June Redus and Golden Stuckey. He proudly served in WWII as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army, 101st Airborne Division. He participated in Operation Overlord (D-Day Invasion), Market Garden (Liberation of the Netherlands) and Battle of the Bulge (Bastogne, Belgium). After WWII he married Virginia Swicegood, on March 29, 1947; they moved to Detroit, Michigan, where he worked as a machinist for Michigan Tool Company until 1971, when he relocated his family to Little Rock, Arkansas, and worked for FMC as a machine shop supervisor in Conway, Arkansas, until he retired in 1986. He had been a 32nd Degree Mason and a lifetime Methodist. Family and friends were amazed at his ability and stamina to survive the injuries and illnesses that he endured. It was this natural resilience that characterized him to be a member of the 101st Airborne. His family would like to extend their love and gratitude to the staff at V.A. North Little Rock, Unit 1D. The staff offered a loving and caring living environment for their special clients but the honor and dignity shown to these clients was outstanding. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Disabled American Veterans (DAV) or the Lion's Club of Little Rock, Arkansas. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m., Thursday, February 6 , 2014, at the funeral home. Funeral service will be 11 a.m., Friday, in the chapel of Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth. 501-661-9111. Burial will follow at 1:00pm, at Arkansas State Veterans' Cemetery in North Little Rock. Please send the family your messages of love, comfort and support to his online guestbook at www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.