Lawrence Purcell

Lawrence Purcell
87
Resident of Oakland
Dr. Lawrence Purcell passed away in Oakland, Ca. on May 6, 2013. He was born in Oakland, on July 6, 1925. He graduated valedictorian of his class in Piedmont in 1943. After high school he went to UC Berkeley and then joined the US Navy V12 program. In 1949 he graduated from UC Optometry School. His first optometric practice with Drs. Degloria and Revelli was in San Leandro which he purchased and moved to Oakland, where he remained until retirement in 1995. Larry served as president of the Contact Lens Society of N. California, President of the National Assoc. of Optometrists of N. Calif., Member of the board of directors of the Alameda/Contra Costa Counties Optometric Society, Co-Founder of the Children's Vision Center of the East Bay, President of the Oakland Health Center and member of the National Council of Sports Vision. He was a life member of the Cal Alumni Association. Always active, Larry was an avid sportsman with a passion for boating and fishing.
In the 1950's he was among the first to fly into remote villages in Alaska where he stayed with native Inuit families while exploring fishing opportunities in area rivers and lakes. He is survived by his wife of 60 years Marion, daughter Leslie, son Brian, four grandchildren David, Leahna, Rachael and Jocelyn and one great grand child Nykyta.
Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service Tuesday May `4th at 11am at The Home of Eternity, Mt View cemetery in Oakland. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the charity of choice.