Kathleen Fargo

Hallowell, Maine — Kathleen Lee (Purnell) Fargo, 88, of Hallowell, Maine, passed away at home from Parkinson’s and heart disease, on July 8, 2018.

Kathleen was born Sept. 7, 1929, in Norfolk, Va., to John Wesley Purnell and Letitia Virginia Lee Purnell. A graduate of William and Mary College, she worked as a medical technologist in Norfolk and Richmond, Va., before marrying George N. Fargo in 1954, and relocating to the New London area. She worked at Lawrence + Memorial and Uncas-onThames Hospitals until 1956.

Together they had two children. They settled in Mystic, in 1961 until 2017, when they moved to a retirement community in Hallowell, Maine, to be closer to family. While in Mystic, she was an active member of the Union Baptist Church, secretary of the women’s group and played in the handbell choir. She also enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, library volunteer work, oil painting and cake decorating, as well as attending her children and grandchildren’s activities.

She is survived by her husband George, of 64 years; brother John Purnell and his wife Myrle of Norfolk, Va.; son Richard and his wife Ann Falkenham of Chatham, N.H.; daughter Karen and her husband William Rogers of Fayette, Maine; grandchildren Kyle, Christopher, Brittany, Jeffrey and Jenny; and three great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held at noon on Saturday, July 21, at the Union Baptist Church in Mystic, with a reception to follow at the Mystic VFW.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Maine General Hospice, Augusta, ME or to the Union Baptist Church, Mystic, CT.