Dr. William Parnell Purfield

Purfield, Dr. William Parnell, age 89, died Wednesday, October 23, 2002. Dr. Purfield was born August 31, 1913 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the son of William P. Purfield and Gertrude Fuhrman Purfield. He graduated from Ann Arbor High School and in 1941 graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School. On September 23, 1940, Dr. Purfield married Dorothy Kingston of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

In 1942, following his internship at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, OH, he joined the Air Force and served in WWII as a Medical Officer in England for three years. Following the war they moved to Clinton, Michigan where Dr. Purfield began his family medical practice. In 1956, the Purfields moved to Manchester where Dr. Purfield served as a family practitioner for over 30 years. During his practice he was the Manchester High School Football Team Physician and served as Medical Examiner for the area. Dr. Purfield was on the staff of Herrick Memorial Hospital in Tecumseh. Dr. Purfield was a member of the Lenawee County Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and was a Charter Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. After his retirement he was an Honorary Member of the Herrick Memorial Hospital Medical Staff. Dr. Purfield was an avid U of M football fan and attended the home games (and many away games).

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters: Margaret Purfield Kenny and Jane Purfield. He is survived by his wife: Dorothy; his daughters Francine Fein, Coelle (Art) Baskel, and Louise Purfield (David Coak); five grandsons: Gershen Fein, Andy Fein, Marc Baskel, William Baskel, and Parnell Coak; and two great grandchildren, Tiffany Coak and Justin Coak. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Lenore Kingston Brieger and Faye Kingston Parker; his nieces Janis Kenny Keogh, Sara Kenny, and Carol Champney Kuzmich; and his nephew Albert Champney.

Family will receive friends on Friday, October 25, 2002 from 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. at the Jenter & Braun Funeral Home, Manchester Chapel. A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 11:00 A.M. at the funeral home with Father Ian Brown officiating. Cremation will follow.

Donations may be made to the scholarship fund of the University of Michigan Medical Class of 1941. Please sign Dr. Purfield’s guest book at www.JenterBraun.com.