1926
Archer
2015
Archer Purvis
January 19, 1926 — February 5, 2015
Archer B. Purvis, 89, of Wooster, passed on to meet the Great Creator of the Universe on Thursday February 5, 2015 at West View Healthy Living.
Friends may call Monday from 1 to 2 p.m. at Roberts Funeral Home-Sherwood Chapel at 7067 Cleveland Rd., Wooster, OH 44691. Funeral services will be Monday at 2 p.m. at the funeral home with a Masonic Service for all to attend at 12:30 p.m. Burial will be at East Union Cemetery.
Archer was born January 19, 1926 in the county of Londonerry in Northern Ireland near the shores of Lough Neagh where he grew up on a farm to William Purvis and Agnes Elizabeth Cooks Laughlin. Archer's father was a veteran of WWI serving with the Enniskillen Fusileers and was wounded at the Battle of The Somme; after WWI he joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
During World War II Archer joined the Ulster Home Guard, also attending night classes at the local Technical School. Then moving to Belfast, Northern Ireland he joined the 1919 Fort William Air Training Core in preparation for service in the Royal Air Force. He reported for duty in the R.A.F. on his 18th birthday. After spending one year in England he was posted to the Far East and joined the Burma Campaign where he earned the coveted Burma Star Medal. When the war ended, he moved across the countries including French Indo China (Vietnam), and then to Hong Kong ending a tour of 2.5 years. Most of his tour was spent with a Combat Cargo Squadron named 194 Sqd or "Friendly Firm." He then returned to England for a long awaited release. On return he moved back to Belfast and joined the Ulster Special Constabulary where he was a Sergeant. Later he was accepted in a trade school and construction became his lifetime occupation.
Archer met his wife, Eileen, while at school and they married later on. With their family they moved to Ohio. He worked as a Union Carpenter and Joiner until retirement from Turner Construction Co. in Cleveland in 1988. Archer and his family spent 27 years on a small farm on Route 30, where he farmed and raised Angus Beef, and all the feed needed. During those years of farming he enjoyed his retirement.
Archer also enjoyed his association with all the Masonic bodies in the Wooster area. Past Master of Ebenezer Lodge No. 33; past High Priest of Wooster Chapter No. 27; Illustrious Master of Wooster Council No. 13; past Commander of Wooster Commanderry No. 48; past Preceptor of Our Savioran Tabernacle No. 33; past Sovereign Master of Mohrigan Council No. 134; Allied Masonic & Degrees, Ohio Priory No. 18; Cleveland York Rite College No. 13; a number of Knight Mason Councils. On December 15, 2012 he resigned as Provincial Grand Superintendent after serving 14 years in the Province of Ohio. Archer also served as Worthy Patron for two terms in Wooster Chapter No. 270 Order of the Eastern Star and Royal order of Scotland. He also assisted in the constituting of New Counsels in Jamica, Bermuda and London, England.
Archer also loved to visit the land of his family. Each year visiting the United Kingdom and traveling throughout Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland. A few years ago he spent a week in the Highlands of Scotland and the Cotswold's Hills of Southern England where his sister lived. Archer also enjoyed sightseeing in London. He enjoyed attending the reunion of his Burma Star buddies of his old R.A.F. Squadron 194 "Friendly Firm." This reunion was held in London where most of these veterans have passed away, we thank them for their services in a place we called the Green Hell.
Archer will be deeply missed by his wife, Eileen; children Juanita (Al) of Grafton and David (Mary) of Wooster; 8 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers both of Ireland; sisters Sophia of North Ireland and Jean of North Carolina.
Archer was preceded in death by his sons William R. Purvis and Perry A. Purvis, and a sister Sally.
Friends may call Monday from 1 to 2 p.m. at Roberts Funeral Home-Sherwood Chapel at 7067 Cleveland Rd., Wooster, OH 44691. Funeral services will be Monday at 2 p.m. at the funeral home with a Masonic Service for all to attend at 12:30 p.m. Burial will be at East Union Cemetery.
Archer was born January 19, 1926 in the county of Londonerry in Northern Ireland near the shores of Lough Neagh where he grew up on a farm to William Purvis and Agnes Elizabeth Cooks Laughlin. Archer's father was a veteran of WWI serving with the Enniskillen Fusileers and was wounded at the Battle of The Somme; after WWI he joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
During World War II Archer joined the Ulster Home Guard, also attending night classes at the local Technical School. Then moving to Belfast, Northern Ireland he joined the 1919 Fort William Air Training Core in preparation for service in the Royal Air Force. He reported for duty in the R.A.F. on his 18th birthday. After spending one year in England he was posted to the Far East and joined the Burma Campaign where he earned the coveted Burma Star Medal. When the war ended, he moved across the countries including French Indo China (Vietnam), and then to Hong Kong ending a tour of 2.5 years. Most of his tour was spent with a Combat Cargo Squadron named 194 Sqd or "Friendly Firm." He then returned to England for a long awaited release. On return he moved back to Belfast and joined the Ulster Special Constabulary where he was a Sergeant. Later he was accepted in a trade school and construction became his lifetime occupation.
Archer met his wife, Eileen, while at school and they married later on. With their family they moved to Ohio. He worked as a Union Carpenter and Joiner until retirement from Turner Construction Co. in Cleveland in 1988. Archer and his family spent 27 years on a small farm on Route 30, where he farmed and raised Angus Beef, and all the feed needed. During those years of farming he enjoyed his retirement.
Archer also enjoyed his association with all the Masonic bodies in the Wooster area. Past Master of Ebenezer Lodge No. 33; past High Priest of Wooster Chapter No. 27; Illustrious Master of Wooster Council No. 13; past Commander of Wooster Commanderry No. 48; past Preceptor of Our Savioran Tabernacle No. 33; past Sovereign Master of Mohrigan Council No. 134; Allied Masonic & Degrees, Ohio Priory No. 18; Cleveland York Rite College No. 13; a number of Knight Mason Councils. On December 15, 2012 he resigned as Provincial Grand Superintendent after serving 14 years in the Province of Ohio. Archer also served as Worthy Patron for two terms in Wooster Chapter No. 270 Order of the Eastern Star and Royal order of Scotland. He also assisted in the constituting of New Counsels in Jamica, Bermuda and London, England.
Archer also loved to visit the land of his family. Each year visiting the United Kingdom and traveling throughout Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland. A few years ago he spent a week in the Highlands of Scotland and the Cotswold's Hills of Southern England where his sister lived. Archer also enjoyed sightseeing in London. He enjoyed attending the reunion of his Burma Star buddies of his old R.A.F. Squadron 194 "Friendly Firm." This reunion was held in London where most of these veterans have passed away, we thank them for their services in a place we called the Green Hell.
Archer will be deeply missed by his wife, Eileen; children Juanita (Al) of Grafton and David (Mary) of Wooster; 8 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers both of Ireland; sisters Sophia of North Ireland and Jean of North Carolina.
Archer was preceded in death by his sons William R. Purvis and Perry A. Purvis, and a sister Sally.
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