He was born July 23, 1922 in Hoboken, New Jersey and moved to Charlotte
County in 1973 from Marlow Heights, Maryland. Bob retired from the United States Air Force as a Sr. Master Sergeant after 27 years of service and served as a Flight Engineer in the Presidential Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base. He flew with Presidents Kennedy,
Nixon and Johnson. He was a veteran of the Korean War and the Viet Nam War. Bob was a former Lighting Director for the Charlotte County Engineering Dept. A member of American Legion Post #110 of Port Charlotte, Elks Lodge No 2606 of Punta Gorda and the Sergeant’s Association of Washington, D.C. He is a former member of the Sunrise Kiwanis Club of Port Charlotte and was the club’s first president.
Survived by his loving family, his wife of 61 years, Bernice R. Purcell of
Charlotte Harbor; a daughter, Judy A. (John) Skinner of Tallahassee, Fl; two sons,
Craig Robert (Norma) Purcell of Riverview, FL and Donald William (Marylou) Purcell
of Port Charlotte; 8 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren