Another Russellville High School graduate has died in her adult long-time hometown this week. JoAnn Purvis Waltrip—RHS Class of 1950--was the daughter of the late Douglas and Kathleen Purvis. She was the sister of RHS graduates Joyce Purvis Everett and Jim Purvis and the wife of one of Russellville’s greatest-ever football players and leaders, Hugh ‘Hoptown’ Waltrip.
The following is her obituary as supplied by Glenn Funeral Home in Owensboro:
JoAnn Waltrip, 83, of Owensboro, passed away Monday, June 15, 2015 at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital. Born in Russellville, a daughter of the late James Douglas and Kathleen Riley Purvis, JoAnn graduated from Russellville High School.
She graduated summa cum laude from Kentucky Wesleyan College with a degree in Social Studies and earned her Masters of Education from Western Kentucky University. She retired from the Daviess School System, having taught English and History at Daviess Count Middle School. She was a fervent reader with her favorite work being the Bible. A member of Settle Memorial United Methodist church, JoAnn was active in her faith. She was an early and ongoing participant in the Emmaus Walk and was active with the Academy of Spiritual Formation with the Upper Room in Nashville. JoAnn was full of grace and content in all things.
Survivors include her husband, James H. Waltrip, who said of her, “She was the best person I ever met;” her sons, Steven Hugh Waltrip and his wife Terrie and David Brent Waltrip and his wife Sandy, all of Greenville, and Richard Craig Waltrip and his wife Stacy, of Owensboro; her grandchildren, Mark Waltrip, Drew Waltrip, Joel Waltrip, Luke Waltrip, Callie Waltrip, Josh Waltrip, Justin Waltrip, and Emily Waltrip; her great-grandchildren Jaelynn Waltrip, Jordan Waltrip, and Keagan Waltrip; her brother, James Douglas Purvis of Denver, and her sister, Joyce Everett of Louisville.
The funeral service for Mrs. Waltrip will be 10 a.m. Monday at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory, where visitation will be from 1-5 p.m. Sunday and after 8:30 a.m. Monday. Entombment will be in Owensboro Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.