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Owens C. Purnell Jr.
Posted 11/16/07
Owens C. Purnell Jr., 60 BERLIN, Md. - Owens C. Purnell Jr. of Berlin passed away Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007, after a car accident claimed his life. He was 60. Mr. Purnell was born May 28, 1947, to the …
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Owens C. Purnell Jr.
Posted
Owens C. Purnell Jr., 60
BERLIN, Md. - Owens C. Purnell Jr. of Berlin passed away Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007, after a car accident claimed his life. He was 60.
Mr. Purnell was born May 28, 1947, to the late Owens F. Purnell and Mildred G. Purnell, in Whaley, Md.
He received his education from the Worcester County Public Schools, where he graduated from Worcester High School in 1964 and went on to complete two years of college at Maryland State College, now University of Maryland-Eastern Shore.
Mr. Purnell met Janet Dixon in 1965, and later married the love of his life on Nov. 7, 1970.
His walk with the Lord began as a teenager just out of high school and continued and progressed until his death.
Mr. Purnell began to attend Greater Faith Temple Church of God in Christ in 1971 and served there for 23 years, where he was ordained to the position of Elder. He most recently attended Lighthouse Church of God, where the senior pastor is Ronald Soulsman, serving there faithfully as one of their prominent leaders.
He was a hard-working man, working for Dupont Nylon Plant for 17 years and continued on to work for USDA for 15 years and 3 months.
Mr. Purnell enlisted into the military, serving his country from 1973 and retired in 2006.
As a servant, he always made himself available to the needs of others, whether it was taking care of lawns or repairing cars.
Mr. Purnell always had a sense of humor, and enjoyed socializing and being outdoors.
He was a loving, devoted, dependable husband and father.
He was well known to the public and loved all who got the chance to really know him.
Mr. Purnell lived as a man of integrity and will be greatly missed.
He was preceded in death by his father; and a brother, Douglas Fontaine Purnell.
He is survived by his wife, Janet E. Purnell; son, Frederick Purnell and his wife Clara; daughter, Faith L. Downing and her husband Charles; son, Patrick E. Purnell; daughter, Hope E. Purnell; grandchildren, Avante' Purnell, Charity Downing, Christian Downing and Charlisa Downing; mother, Mildred G. Purnell; brother, Bobby Purnell and his wife Sylvia; sister, Carol White and her husband Gregory; brother, Michael Purnell and his wife; special daughter, Ida Henry; godson, Alvin "AJ" Banks; and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, nieces and in-laws.
His viewing will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Calvary Pentecostal Church in Bishopville.
Services will be 11 a.m. Monday in the church, where a viewing will also be from 9 to 11 a.m.
Burial will be in the Veterans Cemetery, Millsboro, Del.
Arrangements by Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover, Del.
BERLIN, Md. - Owens C. Purnell Jr. of Berlin passed away Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007, after a car accident claimed his life. He was 60.
Mr. Purnell was born May 28, 1947, to the late Owens F. Purnell and Mildred G. Purnell, in Whaley, Md.
He received his education from the Worcester County Public Schools, where he graduated from Worcester High School in 1964 and went on to complete two years of college at Maryland State College, now University of Maryland-Eastern Shore.
Mr. Purnell met Janet Dixon in 1965, and later married the love of his life on Nov. 7, 1970.
His walk with the Lord began as a teenager just out of high school and continued and progressed until his death.
Mr. Purnell began to attend Greater Faith Temple Church of God in Christ in 1971 and served there for 23 years, where he was ordained to the position of Elder. He most recently attended Lighthouse Church of God, where the senior pastor is Ronald Soulsman, serving there faithfully as one of their prominent leaders.
He was a hard-working man, working for Dupont Nylon Plant for 17 years and continued on to work for USDA for 15 years and 3 months.
Mr. Purnell enlisted into the military, serving his country from 1973 and retired in 2006.
As a servant, he always made himself available to the needs of others, whether it was taking care of lawns or repairing cars.
Mr. Purnell always had a sense of humor, and enjoyed socializing and being outdoors.
He was a loving, devoted, dependable husband and father.
He was well known to the public and loved all who got the chance to really know him.
Mr. Purnell lived as a man of integrity and will be greatly missed.
He was preceded in death by his father; and a brother, Douglas Fontaine Purnell.
He is survived by his wife, Janet E. Purnell; son, Frederick Purnell and his wife Clara; daughter, Faith L. Downing and her husband Charles; son, Patrick E. Purnell; daughter, Hope E. Purnell; grandchildren, Avante' Purnell, Charity Downing, Christian Downing and Charlisa Downing; mother, Mildred G. Purnell; brother, Bobby Purnell and his wife Sylvia; sister, Carol White and her husband Gregory; brother, Michael Purnell and his wife; special daughter, Ida Henry; godson, Alvin "AJ" Banks; and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, nieces and in-laws.
His viewing will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Calvary Pentecostal Church in Bishopville.
Services will be 11 a.m. Monday in the church, where a viewing will also be from 9 to 11 a.m.
Burial will be in the Veterans Cemetery, Millsboro, Del.
Arrangements by Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover, Del.
