Mildred A. Purcell, 91, od Oxford, died at Twin Pines Health Care Center Monday, June 12 – SolancoChronicle.com

    Mildred A. Purcell, 91, of Oxford, PA, passed away peacefully at Twin Pines Health Care Center on Monday, June 12, 2023. 
    Born on March 20, 1932, she was the daughter of the late William and E. Pearle Bard.
    Mildred graduated from Oxford Area High School in 1951 and then a Cosmetology School of Philadelphia. She married her high school sweetheart, Ralph Purcell in 1953.  They were blessed with three children.  In her career over 50 years she established “Purcell’s Beauty Salon” beginning under the Oxford Hotel, then moving to North 3rd Street and eventually to her home on Pine Street.
    Family and friends were an important part of Mildred’s life.  Many weekends were spent together celebrating birthdays, holidays and each other.
    Mildred was a member of Oxford United Methodist Church.

      Mildred was blessed with many talents. As a young adult, she was not only able to raise a family and run a business, she remarkably made her family clothes, played the piano and tended to a garden.  Later Mildred also took up cake decorating and studied to be a certified Cannon Cake Decorator and Instructor.  Many wedding, birthday, and character cakes were baked and decorated over the years.
    Ralph and Mildred spent several years enjoying the art and community of square dancing.  They were members of the clubs “Susquehanna Swingers” and “Circle 4”.  They attended many square dance conventions across the United States in matching outfits made by Mildred.
    Ralph and Mildred began watching “Bob Ross” painting instruction on TV during his illness.  Mildred began taking classes with Bob Ross and later became a certified “Bob Ross” Painting Instructor.  She taught many classes in her home, at parks and craft stores.  Mildred traveled to attend “Bob Ross” reunions and painted with other famous painters.
    Mildred is survived by her brother, William Bard (Trudy) and brother-in-law, William Ringer;  three children:  Mildred Anne Gambill (Mike), Dawn Logan (James), and Bard Purcell (Pam).  Four grandchildren:  Monica Purcell, Lisa Buck (Jonathan), Moriah Finkbiner (Ralph) and Jordan Logan (Cassandra Butler); and eight great grandchildren: Landon, Josephine, Jarrett, Juliet, Joshua, Ralphie, Harvey and Oliver.
    In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Ralph of 35 years, and her three sisters, Betty Kreider, Elsie Ringler, and Mazie Simons.
    The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of Harrison House of Coatesville (4 Years) Twin Pines Health Care Center and Brandywine River Valley Home & Health Hospice for their loving care and compassion for Mildred over the past 10 months.
    Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, June 16, 2023 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc., 86 Pine St., Oxford, where friends and family may visit from 10 -11:00 am.  Interment will be immediately following at the Oxford Cemetery.
    In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Twin Pines Health Care Center, 315 London Grove Rd, West Grove, PA 19390.
    Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. Oxford, PA. On-line condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.