Frank Patterson "Pat" Pursel, III

Frank Patterson “Pat” Pursel, III, age 93, of Bloomsburg passed away, after extended hospice care from leukemia, at 6 p. m. on Saturday, July 24, 2021, at the Pursel farm near Buckhorn.

Born in Bloomsburg on August 4, 1927, he was a son of the late Frank P., Jr. and Helen (Stryker) Pursel.

Pat attended Bloomsburg High and went on to graduate from the Augusta Military Academy in Stanton, Virginia in 1945. He joined the U. S. Army Air Corps before the end of World War II, but was disappointed that he was unable to participate in the fighting. Following his military duty, he attended Utica College, Utica, New York, graduating with a degree in business in 1952.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Washington Lodge 265, F & AM, Caldwell Consistory and the Bloomsburg Fair Association, all of Bloomsburg.

Pat worked for U. S. Radium, ACF Industries, and then Danville State Hospital, from which he retired.

He owned and operated Pursel Orchards in Buckhorn.  He also operated a Bloomsburg School District bus route and a stand at the Bloomsburg Fair. He had a lifetime love of the fair and ran for, but was not elected, Superintendent of Agriculture.

Pat grew up in the family that operated the former Pursel Department Store at the Square in Bloomsburg. Wanting to preserve that legacy, he along with partner Bill Pursel, bought, renovated and managed the former store building between 1970 and 2003. The building has housed Yogurt on The Square, Krickett Square and currently Exclusively Yours. He supported the establishment of Bloomsburg Business’ of which he was very proud.

Pat was an avid swimmer and was a member of the 100 miles club at the Danville Community Center. He also loved to travel and golf.

He married the former Ida Jean Fenstermacher (1928-2006) in 1960 and she preceded him in death on September 7, 2006. Since her passing, he has been blessed with the loving companionship of Patricia Roadarmel of Bloomsburg. He is survived by his two sons: Frank P. Pursel, IV, of Seattle, Wash. and Earl B. Pursel and his wife Deb, of Millville and a granddaughter, Emily G. Pursel of Marietta, Georgia.

He was predeceased by his sister, Nancy Tupper, on December 28, 2001.

A private memorial service will be held at a yet to be determined date.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Dean W. Kriner, Inc., Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 325 Market Street, Bloomsburg.