Purta Family

My wife, Loretta's original full name is Loretta Arlette Purta. Her mother, Jennet Ragland Purta, not knowing the French pronunciation and seeing the name "Arlette" in print, thought that it rhymed with "Loretta." Oh well, with such stuff are families formed.

Father (Norman John) Purta served in two branches of the service in the forties. In the Pacific Theater he was a Navy Frogman (the earliest manifestation of the SEALS), and was particularly involved in demolition. Later after WW II he returned to the armed forces and became a member of the Military Police (an MP) in the Army. He had hoped to go to Europe to see the other side of the world (and of course the recruiter promised he could), but in the profound wisdom of the military, he returned to the Pacific and served in Japan.

It was during these years in the service that he encountered the beauty of the pacific islands (especially Hawaii) which is still a quality of the Purta family to this day.

Years later, the Purtas moved to Leesburg Virginia where her father worked as a draftsman in DECO Electronics which was a branch of Westing-House. Meanwhile Momma followed the norm of the 60's and was a stay-home, full-time mom. This is where most of Loretta's childhood took place.  Loretta was the eldest daughter followed five years later by her sister Maryitta Elizabeth (the second is her preferred name) Purta.

This photo is of Liz, Momma, her bother Uncle R.B. and Loretta

Click on Photo for larger version

I met Loretta when we both attended Eastern Nazarene College in the nineteen seventies (I was there from 74-78 while Loretta divided her time there, attending from 74-76 and later from 80-82).  In the eighties Loretta's family moved from Viginia to San Francisco, California.  Momma became a lover of Fisherman's Warf there.

I popped the big question to Loretta while Mom and Dad Purta were still in California, in fact I have a clear memory of going down to meet them and being taken for a road trip down to Big Sir to see a huge rock formation which reminded me of some beached Leviathan.

In the nineties Mom and Dad retired to Michigan but when health concerns became more overt, they joined my family here in Mount Vernon Ohio where they live now.

Meanwhile, in California Elizabeth met and married Ken Schrouder. They now live near San Francisco California (yes they remember the earthquake very well) and have two daughters: Elaine and Emily.

What Cuties!

Please note that none of the photos on this page are current.  I will add more as they become available to me.