More detail on this person: Thomas E. Purser Jr. Obituaries Fayetteville Observer, The (NC) - Friday, September 21, 2012 FAYETTEVILLE - Retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Thomas Edwin Purser Jr., 85, of Fayetteville died Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012, in his home. Born in Somerville, Texas, he was the son of the late Thomas Edwin Purser Sr. and Dorothy Ellen Rhodes Purser. Mr. Purser married Dora L. Leibrecht on April 5, 1947, and they were the proud parents of a son, Tommie Edward Purser Sr. She preceded him in death in 1997. He enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II and fought in that war, the Korean War and Vietnam. Retiring in 1974, attaining the rank of CW4, he was a highly decorated veteran. His many awards include the European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, American Theater Medal, Korean Service Medal, Army Aviation Badge, Vietnam Service Medal, Master Army Aviation Badge and the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. After retiring from the U.S. Army, he was a flight simulator instructor for 15 years at Simmons Army Airfield on Fort Bragg. He is survived by his son, Tommie Edward Purser Sr. and wife Becky Lynn Swinney Purser of Fayetteville; a grandson, Tommie Edward Purser Jr. and his wife Stephanie D. Purser; two granddaughters, Jennifer S. White and husband Rodney V. White, Monica Joy McMillan and husband Andrew Oliver McMillan; and three great-grandchildren, Jordan, Mary Allyson and Kinsley. He is also survived by a brother, Billy Purser of Somerville. Mr. Purser later married Joyce Brown in 1999, and she and her daughters, Gwen Alexander and husband Tommy Alexander, and Lisa Kincade, survive. A graveside service with full military honors provided by Fort Bragg will be held at 11 a.m. today, Friday Sept. 21, 2012, in Main Post Cemetery on Fort Bragg, with the Rev. Donald Swinney officiating. The family will receive friends from 9 to 10 a.m. today at the funeral home.
Burial information: Main Post Cemetery, Fort Bragg, NC
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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