Richard Jackson Pursley

Richard ""Jack"" Pursley, 87, of Denver passed away Thursday, June 24, 2010, surrounded by children and grandchildren. Jack served in the United States Army Air Corp as a First Lieutenant with the 10th Air Force, 7th Bomb Group, 492nd Bomb Squadron. He was a bombardier on a B-24 Liberator, stationed in India and active in the China Burma India Theater. Jack was a member of one of the ten crews selected to train and use the Azon Bomb. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and a Presidential Citation. Jack was a graduate of Occidental College in California and undertook graduate studies at UCLA. He joined the Atomic Energy Commission Division of Raw Materials as an exploration geologist in 1951 where he met his wife, Jayne. Jack told his family it was then his life began. He was named general manager of Fremont Uranium Company in Denver in 1953 and subsequently served as a chief geologist with the Gunnison Mining Company in Colorado (1957-61) and the Bay West Mining Company, Ketchikan, Alaska (1961-64). Jack returned to Colorado in 1964 as chief exploration geologist for Climax Uranium, a division of American Metals Climax. In 1967, he formed the Rocky Mountain Division for Inspiration Development Company, the exploration branch of Inspiration Consolidated Copper and spent 15 years with the company. Prior to his retirement, Jack headed the Arizona Mining Association. He served on the Arizona Water Commission and the Governor's Commission on Arizona Environment. Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Jayne Lowe Pursley of Denver and his four children; Paula Roberts and her husband Keith of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Bronwyn Glojek and her husband Gary of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, Casey Pursley and his wife Stephanie of Gilbert, Arizona and Matt Pursley of Littleton, Colorado. Jack is survived by seven grandchildren; Fritz (Stella) Glojek, Jack (Nicole) Glojek, Kate Roberts, Jess and Jenn Pursley, Bo and Ty Corbin and three great grandchildren; Cody Jackson, Jayne and Anna Glojek. A Memorial Service will be held on June 29, 2010, 9:30 a.m., at Clermont Park (Tailored Living), 2479 South Clermont Street, in Denver, Colorado. The family will also honor and celebrate Jack's life with a Graveside Service on Wednesday, June 30, 2010, 10:00 a.m., at the Committal Chapel at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado, 2830 D Road, in Grand Junction, Colorado. Please share your memories of Jack and condolences with his family by selecting the ""sign guestbook"" button below.