Obituary - Mr. William G. Purcell

21 December 1948 The Tumut and Adelong Times

The passing on Wednesday morning, December 15, briefly referred to in our last issue, of Mr. William George Purcell, of Wondalga, removed from our midst a member of one of the oldest families in the Adelong district. To many the name of Purcell immediately suggests Adelong, and William George Purcell was one of the best known of them.

Born at Wondalga 73 years ago, the late Mr. Purcell was one of the eleven children of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles Purcell, the surviving members now being Messrs. Charles (Windowie), Frederick (Wondalga) and Ben. Purcell (Brungle), Mrs. Annie Cabban (Canberra), Miss Mildred Purcell (Windowie), Mrs. Cecelia Welsh (Mill-   brook) and Mrs. Rhoda Humphreys (Sydney), Mr. John Purcell (Wondalga), Mrs. J. Alldis and Mrs. Frances Prowse ('Truro,' Adelong) predeceased their brother, the last named within recent months. 

Mr. W. G. Purcell, in his early days, engaged in various occupations to see a fair bit of the country before returning to his native Wondalga to continue the pastoral pur- suits of his forebears.

He married Miss Ada Rogers, of Wondalga, by whom he is survived as well as their three children, Elsie (Mrs. Robert Hale, Wagga), Daphne (Mrs. W. J. Breward) and William Percival   (Percy), both of Wondalga.

For a number of years Mr. Purcell has been in bad health and was in both   the Tumut and Adelong hospitals at various times for treatment.

He found himself unable to continue an active life and thus of recent years the property has been worked as a partnership by the father and son.   

In the early hours of Wednesday morning he had an attack and passed away suddenly about 5 a.m. 

The funeral left the little church at Wondalga after a short service on Thursday for the Church of England portion of the Adelong cemetery. Rev. Dr. Alexander officiated at the church and the graveside, where a large and representative gathering assembled to pay their last respects.

Messrs. Boston Bros, had charge of the funeral arrangements and the pall-bearers were Messrs. Percy Purcell (son), W. Breward and R. Hale (sons-in-law), Roger and Barry Hale (grandsons) and Ben. Purcell (nephew).

Beautiful flowers were noted from Daphne and Bill; loving wife and son Percy; Ollie, Eileen and family; Hilda, Edna, Thelma and Enid; Elsie and Bob; Cook family; Rodney and Phillopa; Bob and Win. Prowse; Benson family; Fred and Lottie; All at Mill- brook; Barry and Carmel; Roger and Sheila; Narel, Marie, Berry and Russell; Alex, Myra, Clarrie and Swanton; Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Roche and family; Grace, Jean, Maude, Clarice and Gladys, nieces and Charles of ''Truro'; George and Dorrie Butler; L. M. Reily, Amy and Ivy; Lily, Bill and Betty; Mrs. Oakman, Greta, Ollie and Edna; Mrs. Butler, Harrie, Jim and Madge; Mr. and Mrs. Bert Hargreaves and Fred; Bill, Queenie and family; Floss and Garn; Hale, Fred and Lily.