Dr. Donald D. Purdy passed away in Seattle on Oct. 22, 2008.

Born in Inglewood, Calif. on Dec. 27 1926, Dr. Purdy was a doctor serving all of South Whidbey from 1954 to 1976, much of the time the only doctor to the sparse rural community it then was: before the 747 plant was built across the sound, before Microsoft, before the dual ferry slips at Columbia Beach.

When he arrived, South Whidbey was a mere 4,000 folks and babies were born either in his small office in Langley (one by lantern light due to a power failure) or after a hurried ferry ride to an Everett hospital (including one in the back of his car on the ferry ride itself). There was no hospital on South Whidbey until 1968, so wounds and broken bones were stitched and set in his office or out behind the barn where the injury occurred.

He knew most of the patients he took care of, not from their maladies, but from interacting with them in the community (he was especially known for his war-hoop call at the high-school sporting events).

He made house calls — often he was calling on a friend — making them at all times of the night, searching for mailboxes hidden among the thick firs on dirt roads with a spotlight he had specially mounted on his car.

But the Island was changing, he no longer was the sole provider of medical care and the population had mushroomed, already approaching the diverse, vibrant community it has become. An avid mountain climber, Dr. Purdy decided his career needed another peak to scale and he left the Island to run a MD residency program in Georgia. An era had passed.

So when it was time to return to private practice, he settled instead in West Seattle, carrying his service to that community until 1997.

He attended Whitman College, The University of Washington and University of Washington Medical School, Class of 1953.

He is survived by the love of his life, Gwen, wife of 59 years; son Jon Purdy and his spouse Adrienne Regard, daughter Joan Purdy and her spouse Jim Yeakel, daughter Dana Purdy, daughter Dona Dale Purdy and her spouse Bob Hellinger, son Joel Purdy and his spouse Kari Purdy, daughter Jann Purdy and her spouse Jeff Miller and 10 grandchildren: Megan Regard-Walsh and her spouse Nathan Walsh, Dana Yeakel and her spouse Nick Gunn, Erin Yeakel, Canon Purdy, Daniel Hellinger, Evan Purdy, Shon Purdy, Sam Hellinger, Dain Miller and Margo Miller. And remembered by many more.

Those wishing to share their own memories of Don may send them to donandg

wenpurdy@quidnunc.net.

In lieu of flowers those wishing to express their condolences may send donations to one of his favorite charities, Friends Of The Seattle Public Library, www.splfriends.org

(206-386-4098), or Room To Read, www.roomtoread.org.