Herbert Leo Purczinsky, Jr.

Herbert L. Purczinsky Jr. 95 of Chilton, TX passed away September 8, 2025. Graveside services will be 10:00 AM Saturday September 20, 2025, at Chilton Cemetery. He will Lay In-State for viewing September 19, 2025, from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM, at Pecan Grove Funeral Home.

Herbert was born February 14, 1930, to Herbert L. Purczinsky Sr. and Mary Minnie Luedke Purczinsky in Waco, Tx. At the age of 2 he moved with his family to Levi, Texas, where his father farmed and he started school in Rosenthal, Texas. He was given the nickname of Scoop by his big sister Evelyn and that name stuck with him throughout his life.

He started out working as a young boy at the broom factory. Later he and a friend bought and co-owned a mini golf course which he sold when he was 21 yrs old due to being drafted into the United States Army. He served with the 8th Field Artillery 25th Division in the Korean War. Upon his discharge in 1952 he met Ruth Ann Pratt in Chilton, Texas. After meeting her he told his cousin “I’m going to marry that girl,” and sure enough they were married on June 27, 1953, in Waco, TX. Ruth Ann passed away on June 2, 2025. They had been married for 71 years.

Herbert was a talented mechanic. He and Ruth spent many nights at Waco Speedway where he would work as part of the pit crew for Roland Ford. He could fix just about anything that was broken. He started working for the United States Postal Service in Waco Texas in 1953 and after 33 years of carrying mail, he retired. Herbert enjoyed raising cattle, watching football and car races on tv.

Herbert and Ruth Ann were instrumental in helping to raise money to build the Chilton Volunteer Fire Department Building. Herbert volunteered countless hours either working traffic at accident scenes or fighting fires within the community.

Herbert was preceded in death by his wife Ruth Ann; his parents Herbert & Mary Purczinsky; sister and brother in-law Evelyn and Martin Paar; sister-in-law and brother-in- law Dorothy and Jack Maxey, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Jimmy and Bernice Pratt, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Bill and Alice Pratt; nieces and nephews Sherrell Rogers, Larry Maxey, Ray Pratt, Steven Pratt, great niece Lori Michell, great nephews Andy Mikulenka , Steven Sumrall & Cooper and Levi Maxey .

He is survived by nephew and nieces, James and Sharon Maxey, Kathy Maxey, Rachael & JD Price, Rebecca and Crystal Maxey, Carol Henry, Darlene Citty, Valerie and James Moore; great- great-nieces and nephews, Taylor Bosse, Kristian Nutt, Colton Bosse, Avery Bosse, Evan Maxey, Jack Michell, Mark Michell, Mary Michell & Stacy McDonald; and good friends Darrell and Dorothy McDade.

Honorary Pallbearers : Chilton Volunteer Fire Dept.

Memorials may be made in Herbert’s name to: First Baptist Church Chilton, P.O. Box 113 Chilton, TX, 76632 or Chilton Volunteer Fire Dept. 200 County Rd 416N, Chilton, TX 76632.