Obituaries

Margaret Gloria Purtell, age 91 of Manassas, VA died on May 8, 2021 at Prince William Medical Center. She was born on April 1, 1930 to Sam Patrick and Della Tournour Wallan in Endicott, New York. She married the love of her life on September 2, 1950 and they enjoyed 66 years of marriage. Margaret was a woman of faith and had a way of making friends out of strangers. She was preceded in death by her husband Paul Joseph Purtell; her son and daughter-in-law Patrick J. and Sharon Purtell; her son-in-law George Sanders; her brother Joseph Wallan and her sisters Frances Shaughnessy and Mary Butler. Survivors include her children Christine Purtell, Jane Sanders, Samuel Purtell (Jennifer), Mary Elliott, Michael V. Purtell (Linda) and James F. Purtell (Kathleen). She is also survived by 13 grandchildren, Michael Sanders (Ann), Paul James Elliott, Kimberly Sanders, Matthew Elliott (Heather), Danielle Purtell Sims (Todd),Catherine Purtell, Courtney Purtell, Jamie Purtell, Nicole Purtell, Joseph Phipps, Patricia Jean Allen, Brittany Beach and Amanda Beach and 8 great grandchildren Dylan Evans-Elliott, Hannah Elliott, Patrick Purtell, Jonathan Sanders, Mia Sims, Nicholas Sanders, Emma Hargis and Hazel Zint. The family will receive friends at Pierce Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 9609 Center St. Manassas, VA on Monday, May 17, 2021 from 4-7 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at 11:30 AM in All Saints Catholic Church, 9300 Stonewall Road, Manassas, VA. Interment Quantico National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her memory to St. Jude’s Hospital.

Elizabeth Faye Griffin, age 85, of Montclair, VA passed away on April 24. Beloved wife of the late Robert Griffin for 60 years. Loving mother of Nancy Conrad, Beth Griffin, and Amy Griffin ( Kenny Kile), and cherished grandmother of Tyler Conrad. Survived also by beloved in-laws, nieces and nephews, and other extended family.

Faye was born in Norfolk VA to John Wesley Horton and Mary Elizabeth Horton, and was a sister to the late John Wesley Horton, Jr. She attended Nursing School on a full scholarship at DePaul Hospital and worked as an RN on the pediatric unit at hospitals in Illinois and Virginia before pausing her career to raise her family. When her girls were almost all grown, she returned to nursing, bringing her caring and wisdom to 20 years at Mount Vernon Hospital.

Lemuel David Jones, III “Dave” died on May 3, 2021 of noncovid lung disease. He was 79, born on September 6, 1941. He is survived by his wife, Martha Wilcher Roberts, his daughter Jenny Somosky, his grandsons Stephen and Michael, and great grandsons Cooper and Reid. He was preceded in death by his father Lemuel David Jones, Jr., his mother, Miriam Grace Gilbert Jones Snyder and his son Lemuel David Jones, IV, “Lenny”, who tragically drowned in 1986.

Born in the era of hot rods and shade tree mechanics, Dave grew up passionate about cars and fascinated with internal combustion engines. At 15 he was working in gas stations all around his hometown of District Heights, Maryland, absorbing the lore and learning the intricacies of auto mechanics. After a brief stint at the Washington Navy Yard, he began a long career at the Naval Research Lab as a technician teamed up with a group of scientists. If they could design it, Davey could make it. He retired from NRL in 1995 to a quiet life in Woodbridge, Virginia with his wife Martha. (Earlier marriages to June Folsom and Janet Butler had ended in divorce.)

William Thomas Bartlett was born into this world September 9, 1940. He traveled on to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and Our Heavenly Father, on May 7, 2021.

He was preceded in death by his father Lloyd Bartlett, his mother Doris Duncan, his brother James, his sister Ellie Compton, and his son William T. Bartlett Jr.

Linda will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

A private family service was held May 4.

William Thomas Davis was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, on March 9th 1937, the son of W.T. Davis and Lillian Louise Ballowe. A lifelong and proud Virginian, he passed on May 2nd 2021. Bill was descended from several founding families of Virginia, including Colonel George Reade, who was the first Acting Governor of Virginia and member of the House of Burgesses; Augustine Warner, who served as the Speaker of Virginia’s House of Burgesses; Nicolas Martiau, known as the Father of Yorktown; and Colonel Thomas Ballowe, who led the 2nd Virginia Militia during the War of 1812.

The Davis family “business” was tobacco farming and construction; however, “Billy” left to attend the University of Virginia, where he graduated with a degree in Physics, residing on The Lawn. Bill then entered the Navy, served aboard the aircraft carrier Independence, and supported NATO missions with the British Navy aboard the aircraft carrier Centaur. While serving in Singapore, he met his British bride, Wendy Rolls, who taught primary school students on the Royal Air Force Base. They married in 1964, returning to the United States where they settled into a happy life as 50-year-plus members of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, which afforded them many friends and social engagements. Bill served as an usher while his wife Wendy sang in the choir. Bill finished his career as part of the Intelligence Community. After retirement, Bill and Wendy traveled extensively, where his favorite location was New Mexico.