Local attorney Don M. Purdy, 89, Celina, died at 12:27 p.m. June 24, 2012, at his home.

He was born Feb. 15, 1923, in Center Township, Mercer County, to Floyd and Ella Miller Purdy. On Jan. 11, 1945, he married Betty Jane Cline, who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Mark (Barbara) Purdy, San Jose, Calif., and Michael Purdy, Fort Myers, Fla.; two daughters, Jayme (Jim) Karen, Dallas, Texas, and Lisa (Bill) Wade, Apple Valley, Minn.; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Three brothers, LeRoy, Angus and Clarence Purdy, and a sister, Juanita Waddell, are deceased.

He was an attorney in private practice in Celina and later practiced law with Don Short. Most recently he was associated with Purdy, Lammers and Schiavone law office and served as juvenile and probate court judge in Mercer County for nearly 10 years. He also taught college business law at the Western Ohio Educational Foundation, served on the board of trustees at First National Bank of Celina, served as a high school basketball referee and was active in the local Democratic party.

A 1940 graduate of Celina High School, he studied engineering at Case Western Reserve University and later attended Ohio University. While in the U.S. Navy, he attended Officers Training School at Northwestern University and attained the rank of lieutenant junior grade. Following military service in the Mediterranean Theatre during World War II, he graduated in 1949 with a juris doctor degree from Ohio Northern University, Ada.

He was a member and past president of the Mercer County Bar Association, an executive board member of the Ohio Bar Association and past president and member of the Celina City Schools Board of Education. He also was a member of the Toastmasters Club, Mercer County Elks and the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Lions Club, all of Celina.

Services are 10:30 a.m. Friday at Bethany United Methodist Church, Celina, with Pastor Jonathan Exman officiating. Burial will follow at St. Marys Cemetery, Celina, with the VFW and American Legion conducting military rites.

Calling is 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday at W.H. Dick & Sons-Hellwarth Funeral Home, Celina.

Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or State of the Heart Hospice.

Condolences may be left at dickandsonshellwarthfh.com.