William Pursch

1939 - 2018

Pursch, William 1939 - 2018
William C. Pursch, passed away on Friday, January 12, 2018. He born March 2, 1939 in Camden, New Jersey to the late William J. and Emma M. (Painter) Pursch. He was a Distinguished Military graduate of Gettysburg College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1960, from the University of Southern California with a Master of Science degree in 1970, and from The Ohio State University in 1982 with a PhD. His 21 year career in the Army began in 1960 with the second oldest Infantry Regiment in the US Army, the 7th Infantry; he joined the Berlin Brigade in Berlin, Germany as a 1st LT. He was assigned to the US Army Procurement District in New York as a Capt. from 1963-1965. He was assigned to his first tour in Vietnam from June 1965 to June 1966, as an Advisor in the Military Assistance Command Vietnam. Following the US Army Quartermaster Career Course in 1966 he was assigned to Command the 957 th Quartmaster Company at Ft. Lee, VA. After a year, he was assigned to the 544th Supply and Service Battalion as its Operations Officer. Promoted to Major, he was assigned as a Material Control Officer for the 2nd Logistical Command on Okinawa from 1968 to 1970, and left for his second tour in Vietnam. Following his second tour in Vietnam he was assigned to the Theater Army Support Command Europe and then the 7th Army Procurement Agency Europe. He completed the Army Command and General Staff course at Fort Leavenworth and was assigned to the Army Training and Doctrine Command with duty station at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. He was assigned to the Defense Electronic Center, Dayton, Ohio. Following his retirement in 1981, after 21 years of service, he worked for Gem City Savings Bank and Robbins and Meyers. Then he joined AFIT as a Senior Civilian until he retired in 1994 and became a Consultant to Industry until 2008 when he retired for good. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service medal with Oak leaf cluster, the Army Commendation medal with Oak Leaf cluster, the Expert Infantry Badge, and from the Ruplic of Vietnam, the Technical Service Honor Medal 1st Class. William was preceased in death by his beautiful wife of 44 years, Lenore D. (Wilson) Pursch and two beautiful daughters Wendy Pursch Stolfo, and Heidi Amber Yarberry. Inurnment with full military honors will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery, where Bill will join his wife Lenore in Columbarium Court No.7, Section N1, Niche N. 3. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to The Ohio State University, Fund #645940, 148 West Lane Ave., Columbus, OH 43221.