William Purcell

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, August 13, 2008

NATCHEZ – Visitation for William W. “Bill” Purcell, 82, of Natchez, who died Monday, Aug. 11, 2008, at Natchez Regional Medical Center, will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today at Laird Funeral Home Union Street Chapel.
Services will be at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home in Sheridan, Ark.
Mr. Purcell was born Sept. 17, 1925, in Illinois, the son of William Clarence and Cora Showers Purcell. He joined the U.S. Navy when he was a senior in high school during the spring of 1943. He was called to active duty at the age of 18, in 1943.
Mr. Purcell attended South East Missouri College and was enrolled in the B-12 program for two years of college. He went on to attend midshipman school, at Notre Dame, for four months of courses, and was commissioned to Ensign in 1945. He remained in the Navy until Aug. 1946 aboard the destroyer, the USS R.B. Anderson, and was called back into service in June 1951 as Lieutenant junior grade and spent two years aboard the USS Black 666 and then returned to private life in May 1953.
He graduated from the University of Missouri in Feb. 1950 with a bachelor of science degree in forestry.
Bill served in World War II and the Korean War. He was a member of Parkway Baptist Church. He worked for the Woodlands Division of International Paper Company for 35 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Malcolm Purcell, George Purcell, Don Purcell, Doyle Purcell, Lewis Purcell; and one sister, Doris Neuchiller.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Lela M. Purcell; three daughters, Debbie Foster and husband, Forrest, and Karen Purcell, all of Natchez, and Charlotte Hines and husband, Richey, both of Madison; six grandchildren, Ashley Elveston, Taylor Foster, Alex Foster, Olivia Hines, Tori Hines and Hunter Hines; one great- granddaughter, Braxtyn Elveston; and one sister, Helen Harbison, Little Rock, Ark.
The family requests that all flowers be sent to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 2686 Hwy 167 North, Sheridan, AK 72150.
Online condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.