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Robert Renton Purves & Virginia Black Purves

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Virginia Black Purves, age 88, passed away peacefully in her Flintridge home on September 6th followed by her husband Robert Renton Purves, age 89, who passed the following day. They are survived by Lauren Purves Zaun, her husband Todd, and their children Brooke, Dane and Kelly; son John Renton Purves, his wife Lynette and daughters Sarah and Emma.

Both Robert and Virginia were born in Los Angeles and lived in Flintridge for 58 years. Bob and Virginia were graduates of U.S.C. where they met. During WWII Virginia worked at Lockheed as an Engineering Draftsperson and for a brief time she also taught elementary school in Burbank. Virginia was president of the Glendale PanHellenic Group, and the Alpha Phi Alumni group. She was a member of Chapter AH of P.E.O. in Glendale, the D.A.R. and was a long-time member of the La Canada Presbyterian Church where she served as a deacon. Virginia’s principal hobbies were gardening, travel and an appreciation of nature. During WWII Bob served in the Air Force as a Communications Officer while studying at Yale and Reed colleges. Bob was employed at Caltech’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory as an Electrical Engineer for 39 years and contributed to Apollo 11, Mariner 9, 10 and Voyager. Bob’s principal hobbies were photography, flying, watching football, travel and dancing. They were married for 65 years. They will be fondly remembered by family and friends.

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