Rita Purdy of Woodway, professor emerita of family and consumer sciences at Baylor University, died Nov. 24. She was 77. She was born April 18, 1941, in Richlands, Va., to Nettie and Henry Sutherland of Clintwood, Va. She earned her undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech, where she met her husband of 54 years, Jim. She went on to receive her master’s degree from the University of Tennessee before returning to Virginia Tech to complete her doctorate. Purdy was a professor and served as dean of undergraduate programs for the College of Human Resources at Virginia Tech. In 1996, she joined the Baylor faculty as chair of family and consumer sciences. She loved to teach and earned numerous teaching excellence awards at both universities where she served. In 1999, she was named Texas leader of the year in Family and Consumer Sciences. Purdy was a member of Seventh and James Baptist Church, belonged to the Baylor Senior Adult Choir and worked with various other charities and civic organizations. She is survived by her husband, Jim; son Jay of Blacksburg, Va.; son David and daughter-in-law of Centreville, Va.; son Jonathan of Charlotte, N.C.; and two grandsons.
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