Samuel Leonard Purtle, age 90, of McKinney, Texas, passed away July 9, 2017. Mr. Purtle was born June 2, 1927, in New Boston, Texas, to Harold Guy and Molly Faye (Miles) Purtle. He married Mary Beth Kuykendall on November 26, 1955 at First United Methodist Church in McKinney.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Purtle of McKinney, Texas; daughter, Vicki Lynn Purtle of Phoenix, Arizona; son, Tommy Keith Purtle and wife Marcia of McKinney; granddaughter, Alicia Marie Bankert of McKinney; grandson, Jacob Samuel Purtle and wife Kim, also of McKinney; great-granddaughter, Harleen Quinn Bankert; and a host of other loving family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Robert Purtle, Glynn Purtle, and Richard Purtle, and sisters, Frances Mills and Mattie Martin.
Sam served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1947 in the Pacific aboard the USS Atlanta. He also served in the United States Marine Corps from 1950 to 1951 in Korea. He made the Inchon Landing up to Chosin Reservoir Campaign.
After his military career, he served the State of Texas as a State Highway Patrolman for 30 years. In addition, he also served the citizens of McKinney as a volunteer firefighter for 36 years, serving as Fire Chief for seven years. Over the years, he attended several fire courses and was state certified as an Inspector, Arson Investigator, Firefighter, and Emergency Care Attendant. He was also an Instructor at the Fire Training Academy at Texas A&M University.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 14, 2017, at First United Methodist Church of McKinney. Interment will follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park in Allen, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., Thursday evening at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen.
The family requests donations be made to the McKinney Fire Department Museum Fund.