Purcell services

Mr. Purcell died Thursday, April 15, 2004, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Mo.

He was born Jan. 12, 1920, in Norfolk, Va., the son of John Washington Purcell Sr. and Denie Byrd Purcell. He was raised in the Beaverdam, Va., area and graduated from Montpelier High School. He received a degree in business administration in 1940 and a law degree in 1949 from Smithdeal Massey Business College in Richmond, Va.

While in Virginia, he was a youth minister, a member of the building committee for the Reveille Methodist Church and participated in other church activities. He helped organize the Young Republican Party in Chesterfield County and ran for state representative in the late 1930s.

Mr. Purcell served in the U.S. Navy from 1941 to 1945 and was stationed in Puerto Rico. He retired in 1982 from an administration post with DuPont, where he had worked for more than 40 years. After retirement, he was a real estate agent for Holmes, Peck and Brown and did contract work for Flexcell Industries.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church and went to Pueblo, Mexico, on church missions to help with construction projects. He was a member and past commander of American Legion Post No. 14, volunteer for Meals on Wheels, member of Masonic Lodge No. 6 and a Scottish Rite 32nd Degree Mason. He served as a human relations commissioner for Lawrence from 1970 to 1974.

He married Carmen Ferrer on May 18, 1944, in Puerto Rico. She died July 7, 2001.

Survivors include a son, John W. III, Lawrence; a daughter, Patricia Lee Wilson, Fairfax, Va.; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Friends may call after 1 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, where family will receive friends from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

The family suggests memorials to American Legion Post No. 14 or the church, sent in care of the funeral home.