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Richard Hawes Purnell, USN (Retired) (May 2018)

6/11/2019

1 Comment

 
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​RICHARD HAWES PURNELL left us peacefully on Friday May 25, 2018 at his home with family in Crofton, Maryland. Born January 20, 1945 to Hawes and Lula Purnell of Austin, Texas. Rick was recognized as an All American football player at Vincennes High School, Vincennes, Indiana prior to attending and graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy class of 1967. On an Eastern Airlines flight in 1965 prior to graduating he met a flight attendant who would be the love of his life and future wife, Joy Sammis. He reported to flight school Pensacola, FL immediately after graduation and then to Corpus Christi, TX where he received his Naval Aviation wings. Rick reported to RVAW 120 for training on the E-2 aircraft and then to his first operational squadron, VAW-126, as a plank owner. Subsequent tours in the Navy included, Flight Instructor in Milton, FL, Hangar Deck Officer on the John F Kennedy, Staff Communications Officer for Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic, Maintenance Officer VAW-126, Maintenance Officer and C-2 Pilot VR- 24 Sigonella, Sicily. 

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Rick separated from the U.S. Navy in 1980 and eventually retired in 1995 after flying with the Naval Reserves. Initially hired by the Sperry Corporation as an engineer and through various corporate acquisitions, Rick ended a successful 37-year corporate career as the Director, Avionics and Radar Systems with the Lockheed Martin Corporation, Arlington, VA. Rick is survived by Joy Sammis Purnell, wife of 50 years, son Theodore Richard Purnell, daughter-in-law Kelly Legal Purnell, grandsons James Theodore Purnell, Bryce Legal Purnell, Davis Ryan Purnell, and Quinn Casamer Purnell. Services will be held at the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel, Annapolis, MD, on Tuesday, 19 June, at 2pm. Following the service will be a reception at the Severn Inn, Annapolis, MD. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the VAW-VRC Memorial Scholarship Fund at http://vaw-vrc-memorialfund.org/donations/

1 Comment
John Mullis
9/25/2019 11:50:44 am

So sorry to hear about Rick's passing on this website. We were squadron mates at VR-24 Sigonella, Sicily in the late '70's and I always enjoyed his company. Prayers and hugs to his family.

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Support and advocate for the United States Navy Carrier Airborne Early Warning Command and Control and Carrier Onboard Delivery(VAW/VRC) community by educating the Public on the community’s rich history, while honoring those that have flown, maintained and supported the community and inspiring future generations to sustain the community’s legacy of excellence.

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  • Home
  • About
    • Mission Statement
    • Leadership
    • Squadrons
    • Ready Room 4
  • EVENTS
    • Past events
  • Membership
    • Membership
    • Lifetime Members
  • Corporate Member
    • 2020 Corporate Members
    • Member Benefits/Application
  • History
    • VAW Decades >
      • VAW 1940's
      • VAW 1950's
      • VAW 1960's
      • VAW 1970's
      • VAW 1980's
      • VAW 1990's
      • VAW 2000's
      • VAW 2010's
      • VAW 2020's
    • VRC Decades >
      • VRC 1940's
      • VRC 1950's
      • VRC 1960's
      • VRC 1970's
      • VRC 1980's
      • VRC 1990's
      • VRC 2000's
      • VRC 2010's
      • VRC 2020's
    • VUQ Decades >
      • 2020's
  • Support
    • Amazon Smile
  • Final Flight
    • In memoriam
  • Photos
  • Contact Us
  • Links
  • Volunteer
  • News/Blog
  • Hall of Honor
  • 1MC
  • Temp