Martha Marie Purdy, age 80, a resident of Belmont Village in Carol Stream, IL and formerly of Wheaton, IL, died Tuesday, September 15, 2015, at home. She was born March 18, 1935 in Tulsa, OK to Glenn C. Purdy & Marguerite M. McCullough Purdy. She attended schools in Tulsa, Denver, CO & Amboy, IL.

A 1957 Wheaton College graduate, Martha earned her MA in library science from Rosary College (now Dominican University). She served as a reference librarian for the Wheaton Public Library from 1964 until her retirement in 1993. A gardener, she also enjoyed outdoor sports, including bicycling, canoeing, & cross-country skiing, reading, playing word games, & jigsaw puzzles. In addition to traveling overseas for mission ministry or to visit friends, Martha especially enjoyed hosting many houseguests for long stays or brief visits to Wheaton, as evidenced in her guest books. She was a member of College Church in Wheaton.

Her brother, Daniel Purdy of Sublette, IL, survives Martha.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, September 21, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., in Wheaton, IL. Interment will be held on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Prairie Repose Cemetery in Amboy, IL.