Vada Belle Purifoy

Obituary Notice

Vada Belle Purifoy, 92, of Little Rock died Wednesday, February 21, 2001 in El Dorado. She was born in Hot Springs, AR to Dr. Martial Wesley and Katie Atkins Purifoy.

Miss Purifoy attended Arkansas State Teachers College at Conway. She was a graduate of St. Joseph's Hospital in Louisville, KY with an RN degree in 1934. In 1940 during WWII she enlisted in the U.S. Public Health Service, working as a Public Health Nurse in camp areas in the Mississippi County Health Dept. She graduated from George Peabody Teachers College in Nashville, TN with a B.S. Degree and a Degree in Public Health Nursing in 1944. She graduated from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, with a Masters Degree in Administrative Nursing, plus an internship in Public Health Nursing for 12 months. She did a National Study in 1958 at the University of Alabama, and wrote a thesis on the "Administration of Public Health Nursing Methods in 48 States. In 1959 she attended the University of Florida at Tallahassee working toward a Doctorial degree in the Past Masters Program for Special Education for Exceptional Children. She taught Public Health Nursing at the University of Arkansas from 1960 thru 1965.She received an appointment through World Health for a six month study in Europe, being the first American Nurse to study in Yugoslavia , Finland, England, France, Switzerland, and Denmark. In 1966 she started the first Social Workers Program in the North Little Rock Public Schools. From 1967-1968 she attended the University of Arkansas Graduate School in Little Rock. From 1974 to 1976 she taught in the Little Rock Public Schools as a substitute teacher. In 1976 she retired from teaching and entered Real Estate. She was a member of the world affairs committee of P&BW Club of Little Rock and a past chairwoman for the Business Women's Group at St. Mark's Episcopal Church. She was a member of Christ Episcopal Church where she was a member of St. Catherine's Circle, St. Elizabeth's Circle, and the Alter Guild. She was a member of Daughters of the American Revolution. United Daughters of the Confederacy , Alpa Delta Kappa, Kapa Kapa Iota Teacher's Sorority, and the Retired Teacher's Association.

She is survived by a niece, Mrs. Katherine Bell and her husband, Darl of Sulpher, LA, a nephew, William R. Baker and his wife, Tommie of El Dorado, AR and several great nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday morning at the Chidister Cemetery, Chidister, AR by Rev. Gerald Perry.

Memorials may be made to Christ Episcopal Church or to a charity of your choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.