Obituary

Richard Purcell, 72, of Plainview passed away on Friday, July 4, 2014, surrounded by his family. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 8, 2014, in the First United Methodist Church Sanctuary with the Rev. Jeff Taylor officiating. Arrangements are under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Plainview. A visitation will be held on Monday evening from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Kornerstone Chapel. Richard was born on April 19, 1942, to Charles and Alice Purcell. He graduated from Canyon High School in 1960 and received an associate degree from Amarillo College in 1962. He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1965 from Texas Tech University and his Masters of Engineering in 1972. While at Texas Tech, Richard was a member of the Saddle Tramp Organization. He was a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas. He was awarded Young Engineer of the Year, Panhandle Chapter, Texas Society for Professional Engineers, 1975. He was a Certified Quality Engineer by the American Society for Quality Control. He served as chairman of the Quincy (Illinois) Chamber of Commerce from 1981-1982, president of Adams County United Way (Illinois) from 1984-1985, and president of the Rotary Club of Plainview, Texas from 2012-2013. Richard worked at the Pantex Plant in Amarillo as a program manager and quality control department head from 1965 to 1975. He then worked for the Gardner-Denver-Compressor Division of Cooper Industries in Quincy, Ill., from 1975 to 1986, where he served as Director of Engineering and Manager of Advanced Engineering and Research. From 1986-1992, Richard worked for Mason Chamberlain, Inc. as Vice President of the Mississippi Army Ammunition Plant in Bay St. Louis, Mo. From 1992-2000 he worked for Mason Hanger-Silas Mason Co., Inc. as Operations Division Manager of the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Burlington, Iowa. Richard was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church. He served as lay pastor for the Paloma United Methodist Church in Paloma, Ill., from 1982-1985 and the Asbury UMC in Burlington, Iowa, from 1999-2004. He was currently a member and member of the church choir of the First United Methodist Church in Plainview. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Alice Purcell of Amarillo. He is survived by his wife Carol Sue Ebeling Purcell of Plainview; two sons, Todd Purcell and wife Erin of Memphis, Tenn., and Justin Purcell and wife Kim of Council Bluffs, Iowa; grandchildren, Frank and Watson Purcell of Memphis, Tenn., and Hailey and Elizabeth Purcell of Council Bluffs, Iowa; sisters, Nancy Purcell Lindegren and Ruth Ann Purcell Ewing both of Amarillo; and four nieces and nephews, Jason Lindegren, John Lindegren, Jaime Samford, and Janna Miller. The family suggests memorials to the charity of your choice or UMCOR, United Methodist Committee on Relief.