Obituary of Harold Andrew Purnell HAROLD A. PURNELL Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - April 9, 2000 Harold Andrew ``Hap'' Purnell, 90, of the 600 block of Clay St., died April 7, 2000, at Southampton Memorial Hospital. He was born Oct. 18, 1909, in Camden, N.J., a son of the late Oliver and Emily Richards Purnell. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Florence Steinhardt Purnell, six nephews and two nieces. He graduated from Guilford College and attended the University of North Carolina and the University of Chicago. He was in the first communications class of Harvard University, USN, in 1942. He served in the Navy from 1942 to 1945. He was the communications officer aboard the USS Rixey and the USS El Dorado, where he served under Adm. Turner's flag ship. He participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and was on his way to Tokyo when the treaty was declared. He was a teacher and coach at Denton High School, Greensboro High School and Franklin High School. He was the first certified hospital administrator at Raiford Memorial Hospital. He retired from G.H. Steinhardt Co. Inc. in 1974. He was a member of High Street United Methodist Church, American Legion Post 73, where he served as commander, secretary and treasurer for two terms, American Legion Boys State Hall of Fame, Guilford College Hall of Fame, Pythian Lodge and the VFW. He was a former member of the Franklin Cotillion Club for 50 years, a former member of Cypress Cove Country Club and Hunterdale Ruritan Club. He organized Boy Scout Troop 28 in 1939. He was explorer counselor for the Sea Explorer Ship in Franklin, a merit badge counselor and was on the board of the American Red Cross. He was interested in the youth of today and their development in sports and character. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the chapel of Wright Funeral Home, followed by a military burial in Poplar Spring Cemetery, with the Rev. Edward C. Johnson and the Rev. Dr. Ira D. Hudgins officiating. Visitation will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to High Street United Methodist Church, 301 W. First Ave., Franklin, VA 23851, or to the American Legion Post 73, c/o G.W. DeHaven, 1328 Clay St., Franklin, VA 23851. Edition: FINAL Section: LOCAL Page: B7 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ––– Narrative Summary of the Obituary ––– Harold Andrew "Hap" Purnell, 90, of Franklin, VA, died 7 Apr 2000. He served in the Navy during WWII, taught at several high schools, was hospital administrator, and active in community and youth organizations. Funeral was held 10 Apr 2000 at Wright Funeral Home chapel with military burial at Poplar Spring Cemetery, officiated by Rev. Edward C. Johnson and Rev. Dr. Ira D. Hudgins. ––– Transcript ––– HAROLD A. PURNELL Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - 9 Apr 2000 Harold Andrew "Hap" Purnell, 90, of the 600 block of Clay St., died 7 Apr 2000, at Southampton Memorial Hospital. He was born 18 Oct 1909, in Camden, N.J., a son of the late Oliver and Emily Richards Purnell. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Florence Steinhardt Purnell, six nephews and two nieces. He graduated from Guilford College and attended the University of North Carolina and the University of Chicago. He was in the first communications class of Harvard University, USN, in 1942. He served in the Navy from 1942 to 1945. He was the communications officer aboard the USS Rixey and the USS El Dorado, where he served under Adm. Turner's flag ship. He participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and was on his way to Tokyo when the treaty was declared. He was a teacher and coach at Denton High School, Greensboro High School and Franklin High School. He was the first certified hospital administrator at Raiford Memorial Hospital. He retired from G.H. Steinhardt Co. Inc. in 1974. He was a member of High Street United Methodist Church, American Legion Post 73, where he served as commander, secretary and treasurer for two terms, American Legion Boys State Hall of Fame, Guilford College Hall of Fame, Pythian Lodge and the VFW. He was a former member of the Franklin Cotillion Club for 50 years, a former member of Cypress Cove Country Club and Hunterdale Ruritan Club. He organized Boy Scout Troop 28 in 1939. He was explorer counselor for the Sea Explorer Ship in Franklin, a merit badge counselor and was on the board of the American Red Cross. He was interested in the youth of today and their development in sports and character. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the chapel of Wright Funeral Home, followed by a military burial in Poplar Spring Cemetery, with the Rev. Edward C. Johnson and the Rev. Dr. Ira D. Hudgins officiating. Visitation will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to High Street United Methodist Church, 301 W. First Ave., Franklin, VA 23851, or to the American Legion Post 73, c/o G.W. DeHaven, 1328 Clay St., Franklin, VA 23851. Edition: FINAL Section: LOCAL Page: B7 ––– Vital Statistics ––– |-----------------------------------------------------------------| | Name | Harold Andrew Purnell | | Age | 90 | | Birth | 18 Oct 1909; Camden, N.J. | | Death | 7 Apr 2000; Southampton Memorial Hospital, Franklin, VA | |-----------------------------------------------------------------| ––– Table of Relationships ––– |----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Name | Relationship | Residence | | Harold Andrew Purnell | Decedent | 600 block of Clay St., Franklin, VA | | Florence Steinhardt Purnell | Wife | Franklin, VA | | Oliver Purnell | Father | [deceased] | | Emily Richards Purnell | Mother | [deceased] | | Six nephews | Nephews | [not specified] | | Two nieces | Nieces | [not specified] | | Rev. Edward C. Johnson | Officiant | [not specified] | | Rev. Dr. Ira D. Hudgins | Officiant | [not specified] | |----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| ––– Publication Details ––– |---------------------------------| | Field | Value | | Location | Norfolk, VA | | Name | Virginian-Pilot, The | | Date | 9 Apr 2000 | | Edition | FINAL | | Section | LOCAL | | Page | B7 | |---------------------------------| ––– Other Relevant Information ––– • Also known as "Hap" • Graduated from Guilford College • Attended University of North Carolina and University of Chicago • First communications class of Harvard University, USN, 1942 • Served in the Navy 1942–1945 • Communications officer aboard USS Rixey and USS El Dorado • Participated in invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa • Teacher and coach at Denton High School, Greensboro High School, and Franklin High School • First certified hospital administrator at Raiford Memorial Hospital • Retired from G.H. Steinhardt Co. Inc. in 1974 • Member of High Street United Methodist Church • Member and officer of American Legion Post 73 • Member of American Legion Boys State Hall of Fame • Member of Guilford College Hall of Fame • Member of Pythian Lodge and VFW • Former member of Franklin Cotillion Club for 50 years • Former member of Cypress Cove Country Club and Hunterdale Ruritan Club • Organized Boy Scout Troop 28 in 1939 • Explorer counselor for Sea Explorer Ship in Franklin • Merit badge counselor • Board member of American Red Cross • Spouse's birth name was Florence Steinhardt Purnell [Contributed by Bruce Saunders, bs4403@verizon.net] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may have contributed to the creation of this text. Please verify critical information, as AI-generated content can include errors.] [This file is https://go-stp.com/BruceObituaries/ShowText.html?Purnell, Harold A.txt]