Christine H. Purves, 96 of Bluffton died Nov. 25, 2015. at Willow Ridge, Bluffton.
She was born Sept. 14, 1919, in Berne, Ind., to Carl and Martha (Baumgartner) Habegger. On Aug. 28, 1943, she married John H. Purves (Jack), who preceded her in death. They were married 58 years. Mrs. Purves graduated from Berne High School and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. She was a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, an honorary music society.
Mrs. Purves taught general music and directed choirs in elementary schools, high schools, and colleges. Her first music position was in Haviland, Ohio. She was a teacher of the same subjects at Bluffton University and overseas in Botswana, Africa, where she taught one of the first music education courses at the University of Botswana.
While at Bluffton University, she also taught speech classes and directed a number of plays and musicals. For several years, she handled programming as head of the campus radio station, and in 1967, Mrs. Purves became the first director of Marbeck Center.
Mrs. Purves was a member of First Mennonite Church in Bluffton. She enjoyed church choirs, ethnomusicology, reading and sports. In 2008, Bluffton University awarded her the Larry W. Jones Memorial Award in honor of her “—interest, support, and significant contributions to Bluffton University’s athletics.” In 2012, Mrs. Purves was granted Bluffton University’s Faculty/Staff Service Award for “—a former faculty or staff member who fostered a spirit of community on campus.”
She is survived by three daughters, Jean (David) Lehman, Greta (Timothy) Holt and Mary (Edward) Liechty; three grandchildren, Gretchen (Jamie) Liechty Lynch, Karl (Emma) Liechty and Adele Liechty; and three great-grandchildren, Susanna Lynch, Jack Lynch and Norah Liechty.
She had several international students whom she accepted as family. They were from Taiwan, Botswana and Kenya.
Services will be held at First Mennonite Church in Bluffton, on Monday, Dec. 28, at 2 p.m. The family will receive friends following the service at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to First Mennonite Church of Bluffton, or Bluffton University: Carl and Martha Habegger Scholarship Fund.
Condolences may be expressed to the family www.chiles-lamanfh.com.
