Carl PurpleMurfreesboro, TNCarl Richmond Purple, 92 years old of Murfreesboro, Tennessee died on March 1, 2017. Carl was born on July 25, 1924 to Blanche Williams Purple and Carl Clayton Purple of Greenfield. He was raised on Silver Street in Greenfield, and graduated from Greenfield High School in 1942, and immediately enlisted in the United States Navy in response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor 7 months earlier. He was 17 years old at the time of his enlistment, and his parents reluctantly signed a waiver to send their oldest son off to WW II. He served in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland France, and Italy in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic Seas. He was an Electrician's Mate 2nd class, and an anti aircraft gunner. He was honorably discharged in 1948. In 1945, he married the love of his life, Genevieve Barber of Bernardston. She predeceased him in 2004.While Carl was serving in the Navy, his father passed away at a very young age. When he returned from the Navy, Carl took up the family business, Purple Electrical Co. The company was well known in Greenfield for their purple trucks, with yellow lettering ("You phone us, We'll wire you"). He also tried his hand at dairy farming, agricultural farming, dog (Beagle) raising, and horse raising. The electrical business was managed in partnership with his brother Charles Wesley (Bud) who survives Carl, and lives in Farmington, CT. Carl sold his share of the business to Bud in 1976.In 1976, Carl and Gen had a calling from The Lord to move to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and serve on the staff of The Bill Rice Ranch, a revival ministry centered on the preaching of God's word. Gen worked in the office, and Carl supervised all construction and maintenance work on the ranch. He retired in 2012, but lived on the ranch until 2015, when he moved to the Tennessee State Veterans Home. Up until this move, he got great pleasure and satisfaction from caring for and riding his Morgan horse, Shady, and the constant companionship of his Border Collie, Dinah. He enjoyed reading, and gardening.Carl is survived by 4 children, Jon, Melanie, Carla, and Tom, as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Carl's family would like to thank The Bill Rice Ranch, The Tennessee State Veteran's Home, The Sergeant Alvin C. York Veterans Hospital and St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital for their loving concern and care of him over the past years. Your love and care were of great comfort to us, and to him. Visitation with the family will be 12:00 PM until time of service at 1:00 PM, Saturday, March 11, 2017 in the Weber Auditorium at the Bill Rice Ranch with Will Rice officiating. Burial will follow in the Memorial Park Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, Carl and his family have requested that donations be sent to The Bill Rice Ranch, 627 Bill Rice Ranch Road, Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37128.Arrangements are under the direction of Jennings and Ayers Funeral Home, 820 South Church St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130. 615-893-2422. Please leave online condolences at www.jenningsandayers.com.