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Obituary of Florence Steinhardt Purnell

FLORENCE S. PURNELL

Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - February 9, 2001 

Florence Steinhardt Purnell, 84, of Clay Street, died Feb. 8, 2001, at Southampton Memorial Hospital. 

She was born Oct. 21, 1916, at her family home in Franklin. She was the daughter of the late Harry and Florence Parr Steinhardt. She graduated from Franklin High School in 1933, and attended Harrisonburg Teachers College which is now James Madison University. Mrs. Purnell managed G.H. Steinhardt and Co., a family business, for 38 years. She was a lifelong member of High Street United Methodist Church, the Southampton County Historical Society, and a charter member and member for 22 years of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 73. She served as a local officer of the American Red Cross for many years and was a former member of the Franklin Women's Club, the Business and Professional Women's Club, the Franklin Cotillion Club, and the Cypress Cove Country Club. 

She was predeceased by her husband, Harold Andrew ``Hap'' Purnell. Survivors include two sisters, Elizabeth S. Widmer of Lewiston, N.C., and Mildred S. Jones of Franklin; and a host of friends of all ages. 

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in Wright Funeral Home with the Rev. Edward C. Johnson and the Rev. Ira D. Hudgins officiating. Interment will be in Poplar Spring Cemetery . Visitation will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today at the funeral home. 

Memorial donations may be made to High Street United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 218, Franklin, VA 23851, or the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 73, P.O. Box 873, Franklin, VA 23851. 
Edition: FINAL
Section: LOCAL
Page: B9


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––– Narrative Summary of the Obituary –––

Florence Steinhardt Purnell, born 21 Oct 1916, died 8 Feb 2001 in Franklin, Virginia, and was a long-time Franklin business manager and active civic and church member. 

A memorial service was held 10 Feb 2001 at Wright Funeral Home in Franklin, with burial in Poplar Spring Cemetery, officiated by Rev. Edward C. Johnson and Rev. Ira D. Hudgins. 

––– Transcript –––

FLORENCE S. PURNELL

Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - February 9, 2001 

Florence Steinhardt Purnell, 84, of Clay Street, died Feb. 8, 2001, at Southampton Memorial Hospital. 

She was born Oct. 21, 1916, at her family home in Franklin. She was the daughter of the late Harry and Florence Parr Steinhardt. She graduated from Franklin High School in 1933, and attended Harrisonburg Teachers College which is now James Madison University. Mrs. Purnell managed G.H. Steinhardt and Co., a family business, for 38 years. She was a lifelong member of High Street United Methodist Church, the Southampton County Historical Society, and a charter member and member for 22 years of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 73. She served as a local officer of the American Red Cross for many years and was a former member of the Franklin Women's Club, the Business and Professional Women's Club, the Franklin Cotillion Club, and the Cypress Cove Country Club. 

She was predeceased by her husband, Harold Andrew "Hap" Purnell. Survivors include two sisters, Elizabeth S. Widmer of Lewiston, N.C., and Mildred S. Jones of Franklin; and a host of friends of all ages. 

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in Wright Funeral Home with the Rev. Edward C. Johnson and the Rev. Ira D. Hudgins officiating. Interment will be in Poplar Spring Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today at the funeral home. 

Memorial donations may be made to High Street United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 218, Franklin, VA 23851, or the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 73, P.O. Box 873, Franklin, VA 23851. 

Edition: FINAL
Section: LOCAL
Page: B9

––– Vital Statistics –––

|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Name  | Florence Steinhardt Purnell                                        | - |
|-------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|---|
| Age   | 84                                                                 | - |
| Birth | 21 October 1916; Franklin, Virginia                                | - |
| Death | 8 February 2001; Southampton Memorial Hospital, Franklin, Virginia | - |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

––– Table of Relationships –––

|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Name                        | Relationship         | Residence                |
|-----------------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|
| Florence Steinhardt Purnell | Decedent             | Clay Street, Franklin,   |
|--                           | -                    | Virginia                 |
| Harold Andrew "Hap" Purnell | Husband, predeceased | Unknown                  |
| Harry Steinhardt            | Father, predeceased  | Unknown                  |
| Florence Parr Steinhardt    | Mother, predeceased  | Unknown                  |
| Elizabeth S. Widmer         | Sister, survivor     | Lewiston, North Carolina |
| Mildred S. Jones             | Sister, survivor    | Franklin, Virginia       |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|


––– Publication Details –––

|---------------------------------|
| Field    | Value                |
|----------|----------------------|
| Location | Norfolk, Virginia    |
| Name     | Virginian-Pilot, The |
| Date     | 9 February 2001      |
| Edition  | FINAL                |
| Section  | LOCAL                |
| Page     | B9                   |
|---------------------------------|

––– Other Relevant Information –––

• Mrs. Purnell managed G.H. Steinhardt and Co., a family business, for 38 years. 
• She was a lifelong member of High Street United Methodist Church. 
• She belonged to the Southampton County Historical Society. 
• She was a charter member and 22-year member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 73. 
• She served as a local officer of the American Red Cross for many years. 
• She was a former member of the Franklin Women's Club. 
• She was a former member of the Business and Professional Women's Club. 
• She was a former member of the Franklin Cotillion Club. 
• She was a former member of the Cypress Cove Country Club. 
• Birth name was Florence Steinhardt. 

[See also:
www.findagrave.com/memorial/110716861/florence-purnell
www.findagrave.com/memorial/110716811/harold_andrew-purnell
]

[Contributed by Bruce Saunders, bs4403@verizon.net]

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