William Leonard (Len) Purcell was born November 5, 1937 in Kansas City, Kansas.  “Grampy Len” went home to Heaven on December 22, 2017.  He and mom loved to camp and fish. Many wonderful weekends were spent camping on Rattlesnake Creek, fishing at the Pot Holes, and going to Family Camp weekends.  Although Grammy Sue was the instigator, he loved to go to watch the Tri-City American Hockey team play and was one of the first season ticket holders.

Len grew up on a farm in Wyandotte County, Kansas.  As a young man, he attained the rank of Star Scout.  He attended Wyandotte High School and graduated from college with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering.

The family moved to Richland in the summer of 1962 and has lived in the Tri-Cities since that time.  He retired from Battelle as a computer programmer.

Len is most proud of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and all the amazing things they have accomplished but mostly for the loving people they have become. Growing up, the doors were never locked.  Everyone was welcome.  Len and Sue were foster parents to 17 young people and travelled as chaperones with the Richland Bomber Band from 1975-1980. In fact, they chaperoned everything from band trips to dances to church youth outings. 

The family attended Bethel Church in Richland beginning in 1972, where he was baptized and served as a Deacon.  Dad had a beautiful tenor voice and enjoyed singing in the choir.

He is survived by his children: Cindy (Doug) White, Ken Purcell, Loron (Lorrie) Tallett, Mike Glance; 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; his sisters Betty Bell and Donna Sue (Dennis) Murphy, as well many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by the love of his life, his wife, Sue “Grammy Sue” Purcell; his daughter, Colleen Glance; his grandson, Sgt. Travis Pfister; his mother and step-father, Nora and Earl Crider; and best friends Bill and Retha Mettler.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 14, 2018.  Please join us at the Highland Grange Hall, 1500 Union, Kennewick, WA, as we celebrate a life well lived.  This will be a casual event as dad wished us to have a picnic for him.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Chaplaincy Hospice House, 2108 W. Entiat Avenue, Kennewick, WA 99336.