Virginia Lou Severs

Virginia Lou (Purcell) Severs passed away peacefully at the age of 92, on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, at Franciscan Health in Lafayette surrounded by her family.

Virginia was born on July 11, 1928 to George and Mary Gladys (Black) Purcell in Oxford, Indiana. She married the love of her life, Elmer Bonnell Severs, Jr., in 1949; he preceded her in death on September 17, 1970.

Virginia returned to Lafayette and pursued a career at The Purdue Memorial Union, where for over 25 years she was influential in the modernization, aesthetics, and efficiency in the day-to-day management of the PMU. After retiring from PMU, she remained active in the community doing the things she enjoyed most including working at the Kitchen Arts Store, and was an active member of the PMU Retiree Club and St. John Episcopal Church.

Her great joys included flower arrangement, cooking, history, reading, summers at the lake, and above all, spending time with her family, her extended Rossville family, and circle of friends.  

A beloved mother and grandmother, Virginia is survived by her two sons, Stephen Bonnell (Denise) Severs and Richard Clark (Kathleen) Severs, and five grandchildren, Christopher (Daniella), Lauren, Caroline (Tyler), Amy (Christopher), and Benjamin.

In addition to her husband, Virginia is preceded in death by her sisters, Winifred Ann Rodkey, Mabel Soupios, Martha Callendar, Kathryn Jungerman, and Jeanette Foy; and her brothers, Maurice Purcell and George Purcell Jr.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, June 25th, 2021, at 1:00 PM at Union Cemetery in Grandin, New Jersey. Memorial donations may be made to the food pantry at St. John Episcopal Church, 600 Ferry Street, Lafayette, IN 47901.