FRANKLIN-Kyle Robertson Purvis died January 20, 2014 at Southampton Memorial Hospital. Mr. Purvis was born January 3, 1916 in Buckingham County, Virginia. He was the son of Charles Jefferson Purvis and Mary Wilson Shepard.

Kyle served in World War II in the South Pacific for 3 ½ years. He worked for Virginia State Prison System for 33 years, retiring as Warden, Southampton Correctional System. He was a Mason, and he was a member of Courtland, Franklin and Boykins lodges. He was a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.

Mr. Purvis is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mary Elizabeth Modlin Purvis. He is also survived by two sons, Kyle R. “Robbie” Purvis, Jr. and his wife, Carolyn, of Franklin; Glenn L. Purvis and his wife, Carla, of Del Rio, Texas; four grandchildren, Chris Purvis (Dawn), Amy Purvis (Scott), Charles Purvis (Jennifer) and Michael Purvis (Emily); and four great-grandchildren, Nadia Purvis, Megan Purvis, Hannah Purvis and Ava Purvis; sister, Elinor Harvey of Independence, Oregon and special daughter-in-law, Martha Purvis James of the Eastern Shore, Virginia.

A memorial service with Masonic rites will be held in 3 PM, Saturday, January 25, 2014, at Wright Funeral Home with Rev. Howard Vinson, pastor of Hunterdale Baptist Church officiating. A reception and visitation to celebrate his wonderful life will be held at The Village At Wood’s Edge following the service.

In lieu of flowers and donations, please remember Mr. Purvis by doing a kind deed for someone else. Those who knew him will remember his smile and robust laugh. He lived his 98 years to the fullest and always was the true Southern gentleman. www.wrightfuneralhome.org