Dr. Lew W. Purinton

Lew W. Purinton, 102, Retired Internist, died Saturday, January 17, 2026.

Rosary will be at 6:00 pm, Thursday, January 22, 2026; Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am, Friday, January 23, 2026, both at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.

Dr. Purinton was born on January 27, 1923 in Osceola, MO and moved shortly thereafter to Osawatomie, KS. At age 14, Lew attended the first Boy Scout National Jamboree in Washington, DC, later became an Eagle Scout and graduated from Osawatomie High School in 1941.

Hitchhiking his way to Lawrence, Lew enrolled at the University of Kansas, where he received his undergraduate in 1945 and medical degree in 1948. While in Kansas City, he met the love of his life, Virginia.

Having received his orders to enter the Navy, they got married and were soon off to his first Naval assignment, a US Naval Hospital in Oakland, CA. Some eight years in the Navy took Lew from California to Pueblo, CO and finally to the Norfolk Naval Air Station in Norfolk, VA. His internal medicine residency was at Colorado State Hospital in Pueblo, CO and the University of Kansas School of Medicine. It was Ben Matassarin, MD who lured Lew and Virginia to return to Kansas where he started what would turn out to be a 50-year Internal Medicine practice.

Starting out with little reputation, Lew got busy moonlighting by doing employment physicals for Boeing Aircraft, the lead physician for the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Director of Student Health at Wichita State University and volunteer of his time at The Guadalupe Clinic. Finding a foothold at St. Joseph, Lew stayed close to that Medical Center and became their Vice President of Medical Education where he followed his next passion, the mentoring of students and residents. As director of Medical Education at St. Joseph, Lew was involved in establishing the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita. Additionally, he would help establish the St. Joseph Family Practice residency program, later joining the UKSM-W Family Practice residency program.

The non-clinical side of medicine peaked Lew’s interest as well. Lew became the President of the Sedgwick County Medical Society. Following a defeat at the state level, encouraged by a friend and colleague, Lew looked to the national level and enjoyed many years as an alternative delegate for the American Medical Association.

During a span of 50 years at Crestview Country Club, Lew took up golf where he was pleased to say that he carded 2 holes in one. Realizing, however, that Virginia did not share this passion, Lew took yet another role as a committee member for the Sister Cities of Wichita. Together, they would find a common interest in traveling to Orleans, France, Kaifeng, China and Cancun, Mexico, Lew furthered this by taking Virginia to meet her relatives in Croatia.

Preceded in death by his parents, Wallace and Clee Ella Purinton; wife, Virginia Marie Purinton; brother, Bill Purinton; grandchild, Steven Lindstadt.

Survived by his four children, John Purinton of Lake Mary, FL, Patricia (Paul) Lindstadt, Barbara Bender, and Scott Purinton, all of Wichita; grandson, Brian (Anastasia) Lindstadt; and great-grandson, Gabriel, both of Fort McDowell, AZ.

A special thanks to the professionals of Phoenix Hospice for their respectful care of dad.

Memorials have been established with: Guadalupe Clinic, 940 S. St. Francis, Wichita, KS 67211; St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 1321 N. Stratford, Wichita, KS 67206.

Services in care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.