June 26, 1934-May 6, 2006

Billy Pursell, 71, Greencastle, died Saturday at St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis.

Born in Putnam County, he was the son of Carl and Dortha (Beck) Pursell.

A 1953 graduate of Greencastle High School, he was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. He retired in 1987 from IBM Corp. after 33 years, worked at Crawford Industries in Crawfordsville, retiring in 1997, and worked part-time at Soapy Joe's Carwash. He attended the First Baptist Church and was a member of Greencastle Lions Club and Fillmore Masonic Lodge.

He married Jean "Jeanie" Johnson on Sept. 22, 1956. She survives.

Also surviving are a son, Mike Pursell and wife Kristine, Carmel; three daughters, Barbara Huebner and husband Brian, Chicago, Lynda Wells and husband Jeff, Brazil, and Nancy Chapman and husband Doug, Noblesville; brother Fred Pursell and wife Loretta, Greencastle; two sisters, Betty Pursell, Indianapolis, and Fred Thrasher and husband Charles, Monrovia; and six grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother John Pursell, and infant son Richard Lee.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home, Greencastle, with Rev. Jimmy Collins officiating. Burial with military rites will be at Forest Hill Cemetery.

Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Wednesday.

Condolences may be emailed to inbth@keystonegroup.com.