Rev. Ronald and Sarah Purkey

News Release

ROCHESTER  — Rev. Ronald and Sarah (Sibert) Purkey celebrated 65 years of marriage. They live at 3123 Manitou Park Road in Rochester. They were married on Saturday, Feb. 16, 1957, at the First Baptist Church in Hammond while Ronald Purkey was serving in the United States Army. The ceremony was officiated by the church pastor, Dr. Owen L. Miller.

After their marriage the Purkey’s did almost everything together. They attended college together. He went to college first, but she took some classes too. Later Sarah Purkey attended college, and Ronald Purkey would go with her and study in the college library while she attended classes. After several years, he graduated with both a college degree and a seminary degree. She also graduated. First, from nursing school as a registered nurse, and later she graduated with a college degree in management. The Purkeys said those days were some of the best days of their lives.

He is a retired Baptist minister. In over 50 years of ministry. They served nine churches in six states: Tennessee, New Mexico, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. She served as a nurse for over 50 years. In Indiana she was employed at Woodlawn Hospital as an ICU nurse in Rochester, in Winamac she served as the assistant director of nursing at Pulaski Memorial Hospital, and later as an ICU nurse at Memorial Hospital in Logansport. In 1995 they were the co-founders of Hope Hospice in Rochester, and served there for nearly 20 years.

Sarah Purkey is the daughter of the late Porter and Laura Sibert of Rochester. He is the son of the late Clabe and Lefa Purkey of Hammond. The couple have two children, Ronald Purkey Jr. and Daniel (Brenda) Purkey in Rochester; three grandchildren Austin (Amy) Purkey, Kenny (Daisy) Purkey, and Laura Purkey; and two great-grandchildren Will and Emerson Purkey.

They celebrated with several friends and family members by visiting with them in the Purkey’s home. Many photographs of the couple were taken.