Edward James Purcell III

Jim was born on July 5, 1930, in Lakeland Morrell Memorial Hospital, Florida, and began his childhood life in an un-airconditioned Florida Cracker home with a metal roof in Medulla, Florida. His parents were Edward J. Purcell II, and Marie Woods Purcell. We are blessed with legendary stories that could fill a book about life in that little village on the edge of a swamp where he grew up with siblings: Jackie Purcell, Joan Bailey, & Jerri Myers.

Jim met his wife, Martha Ann Wiggs Purcell, at Mulberry High School where she was a cheerleader, and he played on the first “Six-Footer” basketball team. Martha predeceased Jim by 20 years, which was the greatest tragedy of his life. He never removed his wedding band.

Jim graduated from the University of Florida in the ROTC program where he was a brother of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. While at the University of Florida, he was an expert of hitchhiking back and forth to Mulberry to see Martha. He received his MBA while studying nights and weekends, while living and working in Virginia. He always credited achieving this degree to his beloved wife Martha, who typed and edited his papers and picked up the slack of raising 5 kids and taking care of the household.

Jim and Martha got married in 1952 and began their itinerant life as a USAF Military family raising 5 children who were all born in different locations. His budgeting expertise brought him from Clark AFB in the Philippines during the Viet Nam War working on the SE Asia budget for Congress; to the Pentagon where he oversaw submitting the complete military budget to Congress. After retiring as a Lt. Col. in the Air Force, his next career was in Washington DC at Voice of America. As Jim and Martha desired to be close to family, they finally moved back to Florida where Jim’s love and expertise with computers motivated him to sell computers at Radio Shack. He moved on to his final career with the City of Tampa where he worked in budgeting.

He is survived by his two sisters; Joan Purcell Bailey, and Jerri Purcell Myers; 5 children and their families. Daughter, Patricia Purcell Kenney (Mike); daughter, Deborah Purcell Rothenberger (Dan); daughter, Barbara Purcell Bushnell; son, Edward Michael Purcell (Laurie) and son, Joseph Marion Purcell. Jim has 5 grandchildren; Michael Purcell, Brian Rothenberger (Kate), Madison Kenney (Randy Ramos), Dylan Tozier, Allison Hoffman (MJ); and 1 great-grandchild, Noah Hoffman, and many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.

Jim’s love of photography has left us with a wonderful collection of photos. He was involved with computers from the very beginning of their mainstream popularity, and even began teaching his grandchildren computer skills as early as 2 years of age. He was an active member of a local computer users group (TPCUG) where he met a wonderful group of like-minded friends. One of his great joys in retirement was traveling with Martha and friends to almost all home and away University of Florida Football Games. His life experiences enabled him to be a great storyteller to the delight of friends and family. He was blessed with many wonderful neighbors and life-long friends who all were family to him.

A Memorial Mass will be held at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 9715 N 56th Street, Temple Terrace, FL on April 25 @ 11:00 am. A post-funeral lunch reception will follow immediately after the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family has selected the Gary Sinise Foundation where you can donate in Jim’s memory.