Delores Elaine Stoudenmire Purdy

Delores Elaine Stoudenmire Purdy was born on December 14, 1930 in Fresno, California to Ruth Eleanor Mathews and Solon Joseph Stoudenmire. She attended local public schools and graduated from Fresno High School and Fresno State College with a BA in Speech-Drama-Education. After working for one year in the Fresno County Welfare Department she received a scholarship to attend the Graduate School of Social Welfare at The University of Califomia at Los Angeles. To fulfill the requirement to work in a rural welfare department she came to Santa Barbara in July, 1952 to be employed as a Child Welfare Services Social Worker at the Santa Barbara County Welfare Department (Now the Department of Social Services). She met Harold Leo Purdy, A Civil Engineer, who was employed in the Transportation Department in the same section of the Courthouse. They married on February 4, 1956. Hal and Dee traveled abroad extensively and they produced travel documentaries for SBCC Continuing Education Division, with Dee serving as President of the SBCC Instructors Association. Hers was a life of Leadership, Service, and Christian Faith. She was the Founding Member and President of the South Coast Coordinating Council and the Friends of the Family Service Agency, formed to support the newly established Child Guidance Clinic. She also served on the Boards of the Legal Aid Foundation and the Family Service Agency. A member of the First Christian Church for 39 years, she served in many capacities, including 3 terms as Moderator. She was a member of the Museum League of the Museum of Natural History, serving as the League's Treasurer for 7 years, was the Treasurer of the local chapter of the American Association of University Women, and member of the National Association of Social Workers. Retiring from the County Welfare Department in 1980, she continued to serve as a community volunteer. After rebuilding their home, which was completely destroyed in the Painted Cave Fire in 1990, she and her husband moved to Solvang in 1994 to build another home. There she immediately joined the Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Auxiliary, first becoming Treasurer, then President from 1998-2000. She served the Board of People Helping People as Secretary and was active in the Christian Women's Club as Vice President. Survivors in addition to her husband include a brother, James Merrill Stoudenmire of Fresno, a niece, Barbara Stogner, of Keller, Texas, and several cousins. Those who wish may make memorial gifts to the Santa Barbara Foundation or to the Santa Y nez Valley Cottage Hospital Auxiliary Helping Fund.

Delores Elaine Stoudenmire Purdy

December 14, 1930 - January 1, 2013