John "Jack" L. Purdum Jr.

John L “Jack” Purdum, 93, went to be with the Lord Saturday, April 22nd passing quietly in his sleep. He was born in Yoakum, TX June 8, 1923. He grew up in San Antonio, TX, later went to the University of Texas, then finished at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, OK with a degree in Chemistry, where he met his future wife, Tomilee Ewton. They married June 29th, 1944. A Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corp, Jack served in WWII as a pilot flying the “Hump” over the Himalaya’s in China and Burma (the highest mountains in the world). He received the Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters for his performance in that theatre, considered the most dangerous mission of World War II by many. He truly was a hero and a courageous individual and his contributions to that war effort will never be forgotten by any generation.

During the Korean War he was called back to active duty to train pilots at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, TX where his favorite son was born!

In 1952 the family moved to Oklahoma City to eventually begin a long and successful career in the shoe business. He was greatly loved and respected in his time from John A Brown’s, Rothchild’s, and The Shoe Gallery. He loved people and treated every person he met with the highest degree of respect, dignity, and concern. As witnessed by his own children, everyone loved and admired him. He always put his own needs last. It was like pulling teeth to get him to talk about himself. He had a tremendous sense of wit and humor, even in the midst of dealing with the horrible disease of Alzheimer’s.

Jack was preceded by his loving wife Tomilee in 1993.

He is survived by a daughter Duane Ellen (Tony) Anderson from Phoenix and their son Collin; son Gary (Gayla) Purdum from OKC and their son KC; son Steven (Kathryn) Purdum from McKinney, TX and their children Corbin (Alaine), Stacy (Ben), and Tanner (Carlee); and one great grandchild. He was a loving and gentle man and was also mentally tough through all of his endeavors.