Purcell, William J. of Waltham, March 27, 2021. Beloved husband of Shirlee (Zartarian) Purcell. Devoted son of the late William J. and Alice (Moynahan) Landry. Loving brother of Frank Landry and his late wife Patricia, Paul Landry, and the late Elizabeth Boyle. Brother-in-law of the late Stephen Zartarian. Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Bill was raised in Watertown and was a graduate of Boston University. Bill joined the Air National Guard and was inducted into the U.S. Air Force in 1961. Bill worked as an aircraft mechanic for Northeast then Delta Airlines at Logan Airport. He and Shirlee, the love of his life, loved to travel. They spent time in most countries in Europe, as well as countries in Asia and Africa. Bill was also an avid reader devouring books like popcorn. But Bill’s real passion was his Ryan PT22, WWII Training Aircraft that he flew out of Marlborough Airport. With an open cockpit and no radio on board, Bill would follow the highways below to reach his destination. And because of his mechanical ability, he would perform all of his own repairs, even to replacing the Irish linen skin on the plane’s wings. It seemed like there was nothing that Bill couldn’t repair from mechanical to electronic, a true Renaissance Man.
Funeral and Cemetery services are private. Due to the ongoing Covid – 19 pandemic, current public health and safety measures will be followed. Social distancing and facemasks will be required for everyone’s safety. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the American Cancer Society, 3 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701.