Obituary of Wesley Purks

Wesley (Wes) Edward Purks, Jr., 86, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 2,2014 at his home in Hebron. Born on November 9, 1927 in Richmond, VA, to Wesley Sr. and Mary Purks, Wes moved to Connecticut after serving in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He made his career as the proud owner and operator of multiple service stations in the Manchester area, where he formed many lasting relationships with employees and customers alike. While not working, Wes most enjoyed spending time with family, tending to his garden, and tinkering around the house. His many achievements and unwavering determination were made that much more extraordinary as he progressively lost his vision over the last 40 years of his life. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Martha (Thompson) Purks; his children and their spouses: Arlene and William Ullmar of Glastonbury, Mary Jane Saucier of Vernon, Roxanne Strickland of Middletown, Wesley III and Stacey Purks of RI, Scott M. Purks of Hebron; a sister, Belle Stanley of VA; a son-in-law, Jeff Rombach of VA; 14 grandchildren: Tina, Dawn, David, Michael, James, Ashley, Kelly, Brian, Justin, Wesley IV, Cody, Katrin, Alfred, Grace and 14 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by two daughters, Benita Petruck and Tammi Rombach; a grandson, Joseph Sieverts; a brother, Charles Purks, and a sister,Dorothy Stopko. Funeral service will be Tuesday, January 7 at 10am at the Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury. Burial will be in Gilead Hill Cemetery, Hebron, in the spring. Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday, January 6, from 4-7pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Lions Low Vision Center of Eastern CT, P.O. Box 43, Colchester, CT 06415. To share a memory, please visit www.mulryanfh.com.