Barbara Jean Gillum Purlee

Barbara J. Gillum Purlee

97; Clarksville, IN

Barbara J. Gillum Purlee, 97, of Clarksville, IN passed away on Thursday, August 20, 2020 at Clark Memorial Hospital. Scott Funeral Home has been entrusted with her care, and an urn burial will be held at 11 AM in Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at Friendship Cemetery (Formerly known as Grant Line Cemetery) in New Albany, IN.

Barbara was born in Brockton, Massachusetts on August 26, 1922, the older of two children of Ralph and Betty Arnold. Upon graduation from Brockton High School she studied nursing at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, where she worked after becoming a registered nurse. It was at this time that she met and later married Richard C. Gillum, a student at Boston University School of Theology. Upon his graduation, the day after they were married on May 21, 1944, they moved to Indiana, where Richard was already a member of the Indiana Conference of the Methodist Church.

Barbara served actively with Dick in churches throughout the Indiana Conference, working in church school, vacation church school, United Methodist Women, community volunteer work, and helping wherever she was needed. She also worked part-time in various hospitals. She lived her faith in Christ in her daily contacts with family, friends, various congregations, co-workers, hospital patients, and all those with whom she came in contact.

Upon Richard's Retirement in 1985 they moved to their present home in Clarksville, IN. She was a member of Wall St. United Methodist Church and served there in various capacities. She was on several committees, President of the United Methodist Women, and chairman of her circle. She was also a volunteer and on the board of the Center for Lay Ministries and a volunteer tutor at Maple Elementary School.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Rev. Richard Gillum and Dr. Charles Purlee; and sister, Meredith Suld.

She is survived by a daughter, Judith Gillum (Yvonne Schmidt) of Albuquerque, NM; and a son, Stephen Gillum (Amy Gillum) of Kailua Kona, HI; and three grandchildren, Jeremy Gillum, Timothy Gillum, and Marie Gillum (Courtney).

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Wall St. United Methodist Church. To leave a condolence for the family, please visit www.scottfuneralhome.com.