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James Francis Purnell
Visitation: Thursday, July 3, 2008 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home 420 South State Street North Vernon, IN 47265 Service: Thursday, July 3, 2008 1:00 PM Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home 420 South State Street North Vernon, IN 47265	VIEW/SEND CONDOLENCES
James Francis Purnell, 85, of Butlerville died at 10:40 p.m. Sunday, June 29, 2008, at his home. Mr. Purnell owned and operated Auto-Renu Shop in North Vernon for 40 years, and had also owned Jennings Auto Body for 20 years and a furniture and antiques store for 30 years. He was a 1941 high school graduate in Cincinnati, and worked for the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a member of the National Rifle Association, former president of the Sportsmans Club and attended Bethel Baptist Church in North Vernon. He was creative in automotive restoration, and enjoyed fishing, hunting, watercolor and oil painting, the outdoors and reading. The funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 3, at Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home in North Vernon with the Rev. Steve Wingert officiating. Calling is from 10 a.m. until time of the service. Burial will be at Vernon Cemetery. Memorials may be made through the funeral home to Bethel Baptist Church or Hospice of Jennings County. Born January 1, 1923, in Cincinnati, Mr. Purnell was the son of William and Ollie Pauline Carter Purnell. He married Joyce Perkins on April 10, 1942, in Hamilton Co., Ohio. Surviving with his wife are two sons, Gary Purnell of Butlerville and Richard (Marguerite) Purnell of North Vernon; two daughters, Patricia J. Harrington of Bloomington and Elizabeth Purnell of Scottsburg; a sister, Ruth Yates, of Madison, Florida; eleven grandchildren, Rich Purnell and Greg Purnell of Denver, Colorado, Josh Purnell of Jacksonville, Florida, Liesl Wingert of Olney, Illinois, Michelle Young of North Vernon, Toby Purnell, Jason Purnell, James Huffman and April Fugate of Bloomington, Ezra Fugate of Scottsburg and Todd Smith of Columbus; and 13 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Lynda Ann Purnell in 1949.