Virginia Omohundro PURCELL

PURCELL, Virginia Omohundro, age 88, died Sunday, November 1, 2009. She was born in Chester, Pennsylvania, and raised in Fork Union, Virginia, and lived most of her life in Louisa County. She was born on January 21, 1921 to her beloved father, Ray Compton Omohundro; and her beloved mother, Maude Wood Omohundro. She graduated from Fluvanna County High School in 1938, and then graduated from Westhampton College in Richmond in 1942. She was married to Harold H. Purcell, her beloved husband of 65 years, in Fork Union Baptist Church on July 3, 1942. She celebrated 65 years of marriage on July 3, 2007 and has now been reunited with her husband and lifetime partner who she loved so much and shared everything. After marriage, she became a member of the Louisa Christian Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher, a Deaconess and a member of the Christian Women's Fellowship for over 60 years. She taught school while her husband was in World War II. She was active in community service, including president of the K. S. Club and Daughters of the American Revolution. Her husband, family and faith were her lifelong avocation. She is survived by her two sons, Harold W. "Hal" Purcell and his wife, Anita, of Midlothian, Virginia, and Charles F. Purcell and his wife, Janet, of Louisa, Virginia. She is further survived by four grandchildren, Brian Christopher Purcell and his wife, Stacy, Lee Walton Purcell, Eric Flint Purcell and his wife, Jennifer, and Virginia Victoria Purcell; and four great-grandchildren, Connor Ross Purcell, Taylor Claire Purcell, Hayden Jay Purcell and Luke Flint Purcell. She is also survived by eight nephews and nieces, Betsy Purcell Simpson, John Jerl Purcell, Richard Grafton Purcell, Patsy Purcell Alexander Hatchett, Charles Alexander IV, Courtney Omohundro, Sue Omohundro and Sally Omohundro. Finally, she is survived by her devoted family friend and caring and loving companion, Merle Butler. She was predeceased by two brothers, R. C. Omohundro Jr. and John Wood Omohundro; and her beloved husband, Harold H. Purcell. Visitation will be held at the Louisa Christian Church on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 from 6 to 8 p.m., and funeral services will be held at the Louisa Christian Church on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 2 p.m., led by the Rev. Dr. H. Denmark Burnette. Interment will be at Hill Crest Cemetery in Louisa with a reception to follow at the Louisa Christian Church. Arrangements by Woodward Funeral Home of Louisa. In lieu of flowers, contributions may he made to the Louisa Christian Church, P.O. Box 1344, Louisa, Virginia 23093. Visit www.woodwardfuneral.com for online guestbook.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.