Thelma Grace Purnell

Thelma Grace Purnell, 93, of Chambersburg, passed away on Monday morning, May 19, 2025, at the Chambersburg Hospital. Born July 18, 1931 in Chambersburg, she was a daughter of the late Fred N. and Mary Ann Keebaugh Blair. Her beloved husband of 48 years, Raymond Leroy Purnell, whom she married on April 8, 1955, preceded her in death on August 7, 2004.

Thelma was a 1949 graduate of the former Chambersburg High School. She dedicated a large part of her life to making a home for her family. She also was employed at several area businesses including: Lehman’s Egg Service, Knouse Foods, Gibble’s Foods, H. J. Heinz, and Letterkenny Army Depot. She and her husband were also the owner/operators of Purnell’s Greenhouse and later Purnell’s Country Side Crafts. Thelma was a charter member of The Open Door Church in Chambersburg, where she was active in missions, taught Sunday school, and participated in Operation Christmas Child and with their special needs program, God’s Special People.

She is survived by two children, Donna Rae Alexander of Ocala, FL, and David L. Purnell (wife Susan) of Chambersburg; five grandchildren, Mandi Maloney (husband Sean), Brady Purnell (wife Kendra), Richena Purnell-Sayle (husband John David), Kyle Purnell (wife Kelsy) and Erin Dela (husband Carlos); five great grandchildren, Seamus Maloney, Lillian Purnell, Oliver Purnell, Waverley Sayle, and Poppy Purnell; and three sisters, Alice Davis (husband Benjamin), Shirley Lehman, and Lois Blair. Aside from her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her grandson, Lynn Purnell; three sisters, Louise Mower, Mary Jane Naugle and Darlene Blair; and two half-brothers, Harold and Donald Blair.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 AM on Friday, May 23, 2025, at the Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home, 333 Falling Spring Road, Chambersburg, PA 17202. Rev. Mike Sanders will officiate. The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 7:00 PM on Thursday evening at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service on Friday. Private graveside services will be held at Parklawns Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Operation Christmas Child at https://samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/ways-to-give/. Condolences and memories may be shared at geiselfuneralhome.com.