Bus Driver

Donna Blatch, 54

Died February 16, 2021.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami FL

Bus Driver

Local news:

Friends and family members are mourning the loss of a Miami-Dade County Public Schools bus driver who died after contracting COVID-19.

Outside a bus terminal Tuesday morning, friends of MDCPS bus driver Donna Blatch offered a prayer to her grieving children.

“You know we are out here today lord God, lord God this Covid is real,” friend Letty McGhee said in prayer. “We ask them to touch heal and deliver them lord God, lord God give them peace right now

Donnna’s daughter Kanika Bradshaw said through tears that she already misses the simple moments, like talking to her mom.

“She was a good friend, she was a good mother, she was outspoken,” said Bradshaw. “Her just calling me, just calling me.”

Donna’s colleagues are also frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic, and they explained that bus drivers continue to struggle with the fear of exposure.

“The kids are not keeping their mask on their faces, kids are not social distancing on the bus [and] we are in a closed confined space,” said Mairetha Milton. “They should treat us with some dignity. We are asking to be respected the way the teachers are being respected.

“We are frontline workers. We can’t stay home and drive a bus from a computer.”

Between students who refuse to wear their masks and a breakdown in communication on whether any students sent home to quarantine were also on their routes, bus drivers’ concerns are growing.

Bradshaw said her mom often expressed concern that she was not being notified when kids who had been on her bus route were sent home to quarantine.

She believes this is crucial information so bus drivers can make life-critical decisions like whether to quarantine themselves or get tested.

“I know she inquired about the protocols and why kids were missing over a certain period of time,” Bradshaw said, adding that with other family members working as bus drivers, she feels like her mom’s legacy will be fighting for them to be safe and respected, fighting for their dignity.

“I lost my best friend to this covid,” Milton said. “How many more Donna Blatch’s is it going to be before it happens to one of us? We’re scared; we have underlying conditions, we have families with underlying conditions that we may take this Covid home to our families, and they need to take into consideration when they talk about opening these schools, they need to take our lives in consideration. The teachers can work and do that from home, we can’t do that. So we are asking for our community, pastors, the governor, the mayor to help us. Make it safer for us and these kids on these Dade County school buses. We have not got any recognition for what we are doing as bus drivers and we are afraid of losing our lives.”

In a statement, the school district said Donna worked with them for nearly 18 years and that they did not locate any positive COVID-19 cases involving students on her bus route.

The district also said when aware of a positive test, they do work to notify drivers if the student was on their route, adding there is ample PPE (personal protective equipment) and that drivers just need to ask for more if they run out.

McGhee however believes more can be done to keep drivers safe and to show recognition for their essential work.

“Recognize and understand this is real, someone lost their life,” she said. “We want to be recognized that we are frontline workers too.”

Donna’s death comes as the United States just marked a grim milestone of 500,000 lives lost to COVID-19.

As a caregiver, one thing bus drivers said you can do to help them stay safe is stress the life-critical importance of students wearing their masks and practicing social distancing while on the school bus to children, reminding them we are all in this together.

According to information posted on the Federal Education Association (FEA) Safe Schools Report, at least four active school bus drivers have died from COVID-19 in the state of Florida since Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran’s July 6 reopening order.

To see their names and view the FEA’s COVID-19 related data, click here.

A statement was sent to Local 10 late Tuesday from Phyllis Leflore, president of the AFSCME Local 1184. It read:

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Ms. Blatch, an incredibly dedicated bus driver and veteran Union member. We are keeping her family, friends, and colleagues in our prayers during this difficult time. Ms. Blatch is the third loss from COVID 19 we have had within our Union in just the two weeks.

AFSCME Local 1184 is seeking a higher level of communication between M-DCPS and our Transportation Department to ensure that we are notified of all COVID 19 cases as they are reported in the District so that we can take appropriate measures to protect our members, students, and communities they serve. It is essential that we have a clear path of communication within our District in order to save lives.”

Keith Purdy, 70

Died February 2, 2021.

Gilbert Public Schools, Gilbert, AZ

Obituary:

Keith L. Purdy, 70 of Gilbert, AZ graduated from mortality on February 2, 2021.

Keith is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Joan Marie (Six) Purdy, and their 7 children; Rachelle (Brian) Shahan of Delaware, Nyline (Nathan) Barron of Washington, Marjorie (Gustavo) Lom of Arizona, Keith C. (Jessica) Purdy of Arizona, Rebekah (Joshua) Winter of Arizona, Cathryn (Keith) Figured of Arizona, Joan (Paul) Pipersburgh of Wisconsin, a surrogate daughter Leann Baumann of Delaware as well as 22 grandchildren.

He is also survived by his siblings Elizabeth Hart, Cynthia Gardner, Alica Stott, Lynn Chatham, Michelle Chatham, and Richard Purdy.

Keith was preceded in death by his mother Florence (Lucas) Burr, father John Burr, and biological father Richard Purdy, step-father Donald Chatham.

Keith L Purdy was born September 10, 1950, in Philadelphia PA. spending the first 5 years of his childhood with his grandfather in his bicycle shop. He would later join his mother and step-father in Illinois and would later move with his mother and siblings to Arizona. Keith is a class of 1969 graduate of Mesa Highschool. Keith served a full-time mission for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from 1970 to 1972 in the North-Western States Mission serving in Idaho, and Oregon. Over the course of his life, Keith worked hard in numerous positions of employment. His employment included milk and bread delivery representative, Regional Sales Director with A.N.F Pet Foods, Banker with MBNA, and later Bank of America. In retirement, he very much enjoyed his position as Bus Driver with Gilbert Public Schools driving bus #T261. Keith enjoyed playing many sports over the course of his life. Some included softball, basketball, football, and racquetball. Keith also came to enjoy cycling, often logging 20 miles a day along the streets of Gilbert and Mesa. One of his greatest accomplishments came in 2005 when he hiked the Grand Canyon, solo, from rim to rim in just over 24 hours. Keith was awarded recognition for being the greatest contributor in his Dale Carnegie Business and Communications course (1985) and has been recognized as a Competent Communicator in the Toastmasters International Communication Program (2017). Keith would tell you his greatest accomplishment was winning the heart of Joan M. Six in 1975. They were married on September 12, 1975, for Time and all Eternity in the Mesa AZ Temple. Keith always had a mind for service. He served countless callings with his church, including Branch President of the Durant Oklahoma Branch, Sunday School Teacher, High Priest Group Leader, Stake High Council, Councilor in the Smyrna Delaware Ward Bishopric, Young Men’s President, Stake Young Men’s President, Ward Mission Leader, Primary Activity Day Leader, and was a Temple Worker for many years for both the Mesa and Gilbert AZ Temples. He would say that his most important callings were that of Husband, Father, and Grandpa. Every responsibility placed on his shoulders was given his greatest effort, so it’s no wonder his Heavenly Father would call him to a higher calling. Keith’s faith was unwavering and his love of his Savior and the Atonement evident in the way he lived his life. To know Keith was to love him.

Donald Beam, 68

Died January 26, 2021.

Greenville County Schools, Greenville, SC

Bus Driver

Obituary:

Donald Broadus Beam, 68, passed away Tuesday evening, January 26, at Bon Secours Hospital, Greenville, SC after a short illness and complications due to Covid-19. Donnie and his wife Libby Stewart Beam lived in Fountain Inn, SC. Together they shared over 30 years of marriage.

Donnie, born in Shelby, NC, was the oldest son of the late Broadus Oates Beam and Irene Norman Beam of Blacksburg, SC. Donnie and his younger brother, Randy Beam, grew up in the Antioch Community of Blacksburg. Donnie was a lifelong member of Antioch Baptist Church in Blacksburg, and he leaves behind many fond memories of his life there in Antioch.

Family left to cherish his memory are his wife, Libby, his faithful brother, Randy Beam (Jill), Nephew: Kellan Beam (Brianna) of Seabrook, SC; Nieces: Mollie Beam Dixon (Michael) and Alice Anne Beam, all of Blacksburg, SC; as well as a great niece and 2 great nephews, Madison, Mason, and Miles Dixon. Donnie also shared a close family connection with his cousins: Sammy (Julia Nichols) of Kings Mountain, NC, Lynn McCraw Rowland (Tim) of Grover, NC, and Eddie McCraw of Greenwood, SC. He will also be missed by amazing friends and neighbors at Carolina Springs Golf Club in Fountain Inn.

Donnie spent 22 years of his career at Minette Mills in Grover, NC, and the remainder of his career in South Carolina. He made so many lifelong friendships wherever he was placed in this world. After retiring from his work industry, Donnie answered a most special calling to drive a school bus for children with special needs in the Greenville County School System. This was one of his greatest passions. He experienced a grand sense of joy in this newfound workplace.

Anyone who knew Donnie can tell you that he was an avid Carolina Gamecock Fan. He was a lifetime fan through the good and the bad! Donnie was also an avid golfer until the end. Donnie’s life was a blessing. His memory will be treasured. He was loved beyond words, and he will be missed beyond measure.

Family and friends of Donnie can be visited at their perspective homes. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Greenville County- 305 Airport Rd. Greenville, SC 29607 or to a charity of choice.

A graveside service for Donnie will be conducted at Antioch Baptist Church, 839 Antioch Road, Blacksburg, SC at 2:00 in the afternoon on Friday, January 29. Wear your Gamecock Gear or your Black and Red (Donnie’s Favorite Colors).

*The family asks attendees please wear a mask and engage in social distancing as much as possible.

Doug Broste

Died January 11, 2021.

Francis Howell School District, Charles, MO

Bus Driver

Local news:

The family of Francis Howell School District bus driver Doug Broste, who died from COVID-19, said he had been diagnosed with a sinus infection.

He died a week later.

Darla Hollowood said her brother started feeling ill Monday, Jan. 5.

“He called in sick to work,” Hollowood said. “By afternoon he called his doctor and told him what was going on, and his doctor diagnosed him with a sinus infection and called in an antibiotic prescription. So, he was taking antibiotics all week and working with it.”

Hollowood said her brother did not get a COVID-19 test initially.

“No, he was told he didn’t need one because he had a sinus infection,” she said.

A week later, Monday, Jan. 11, Broste was transported to the emergency room.

“Before they moved him to the ICU, he called and said they told him he had COVID-19,” Hollowood said.

He died that same evening.

“Yeah,” she sighed. “He called me at 4:30 and less than six hours later he was gone. We were just blown away. Totally caught off guard. We had no idea.”

Hollowood said her brother’s death comes at an already difficult time for her family. Their mother has health problems after a house fire last year and Broste was caring for her.

Hollowood was asked if she is concerned that her brother may have been around children on the school bus while he had COVID-19.

“The symptoms hit him Monday, Jan. 5,” she said. “So, I hope not. He was one who was very serious about being cautious, because he was caring for my mom, who is high-risk. As a result, he always wore a mask. He always stayed at a distance. He always washed his hands. He told me the first two rows of the bus are empty.”

Francis Howell School District officials said no close contacts were identified as part of the district’s contact tracing process.

The district released the following statement:

“The Francis Howell community was saddened to learn of the passing of one of our own, Mr. Doug Broste, a member of our transportation staff who served the District for many years. He proudly dedicated his time and skills to safely transporting children to schools across the District and will be sorely missed by all those who knew and loved him. Our thoughts are with Mr. Broste’s family, colleagues, and the students on his bus route as they grieve this incredible loss.”

Family friends have set up a GoFundMe page to help with the care of Broste and Hollowood’s mother.

Jim Benham, 74

Donna Blatch, 54

Lynn Himes Kraemer, 57

Larry Hon, 78

Keith Purdy, 70

Donald Beam, 68

Todd Brewer, 52

James Moran, 52

John Suiters, 58

Doug Broste