William Murphy

William Murphy, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather passed away at the age of eighty-one on March 27, 2023. Affectionately known as “Murph”, the Colonel will continue to live in our hearts and will be remembered for a life well-lived in respect to God, his family, and his country. Colonel Murphy was born the oldest of four children to the late Francis Fleming Murphy and Theresa Verrette Murphy on May 22, 1941 in North Andover, Massachusetts. His siblings include Thomas (deceased), Robert, and Barbara. Growing up, the Colonel’s earliest influences were his extended family and his predominantly Irish Catholic neighborhood. Throughout his life, Colonel Murphy was known as a humorous and gifted storyteller, recounting tales about his adventures growing up in a tight-knit community. There was always a smile on his face and a twinkle in his bright, blue eyes upon the telling. From an early age, Colonel Murphy was very athletic and much preferred the basketball court to classroom studies. Colonel Murphy graduated from Salem State College (now University) in Salem, Massachusetts in 1965 with a BS in Education. Although he never became an educator in a typical classroom setting, Colonel Murphy had an unflagging passion for teaching and learning throughout his lifetime. He entered the Platoon Leader Class in March 1963 and upon graduation was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. Following graduation from the Basic School and the Unit Supply Officers Course, Colonel Murphy served as the supply officer for the Second Light Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion in Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam. He returned to the United States in June 1967 and was assigned duties as the supply officer with the 4th Battalion, 10th Marines, 2nd Marine Division. In May 1968, Colonel Murphy was ordered to Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps where he served as a member of the Supported Activities Supply System (SASSY) Developmental Task Force until he was reassigned to the Amphibious Warfare School, MCDEC, in Quantico, Virginia in 1970. From August 1971 until September 1972, he served as the logistics officer, Marine Barracks, Subic Bay, Philippines. It was there that he became a certified scuba diver, surprised his family by getting braces, and won a Rolex watch in a card game. Colonel Murphy then returned to his young family in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and was assigned duties as an instructor and then director of Ground Supply Instruction Section, Marine Corps Service Supply Schools. Colonel Murphy was selected to participate in the Advanced Degree Program and received a Masters of Arts in Education from the University of Colorado in August 1976. He After returning to Camp Lejeune upon the completion of his degree, Colonel Murphy became the Officer-In-Charge, Field Supply and Maintenance Analysis Office-Three. He and his family had a three year tour in Okinawa, Japan and visited Hawaii, South Korea, the Philippines, and grew to love yakisoba. He assumed command of the 2nd Maintenance Battalion on June 22, 1983. Colonel Murphy was reassigned as the deputy assistant chief of staff, G-3, in December of 1985. He was then assigned to the Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany, Georgia, on July 2, 1986, and assumed duties as the Director of Materiel Division. In March 1988, Colonel Murphy was reassigned to duties at the Principal Director, Integrated Logistics Support Directorate and completed the resident program for Senior Officials in National Security, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, that same year. It was one of his proudest achievements and he delighted in telling friends and family “he was a Harvard graduate.” He wasn’t wrong. Colonel Murphy assumed command of Defense Depot, Memphis, Tennessee in 1990. The “Depot” was predesignated as Defense Distribution Region Central during October of 1991 and became a critical source of supplies during Operation Desert Storm. In the midst of the Gulf War Conflict, former Vice President Dan Quayle visited the Depot to tour the operation. It was fitting that Colonel Murphy returned for one final tour to Camp Lejeune a.k.a. “Swamp Lagoon”. This was where his career began and where he would retire in 1995 with an honorable discharge after serving as the Chief of Staff, G-4, Marine Forces Atlantic. Colonel Murphy’s personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal with gold star in lieu of a second award, and the Navy Achievement Medal with combat “V” and gold star in lieu of a second award. Colonel Murphy married the former Margot K. Smith of Littleton, Massachusetts and had two daughters. They retired in Cary, NC to be close to their family and spent many weekends searching for shark’s teeth and beach glass at Carolina Beach. Colonel Murphy became passionate about learning conversational Spanish, reading Lee Child novels, babysitting his granddaughters, cheering for the NCSU Wolfpack, and all things golf, becoming a familiar volunteer at the SAS Tournament driving range. He had a brief second act as a headmaster of a private school and as a child custody mediator for Moore County. The Colonel is survived by his wife of fifty-seven years, Margot Murphy, daughter Kathleen and husband Forrest Van Keuren, Carolina Beach, NC; daughter Christine and husband Peter Zimmermann of Lakewood, CO; granddaughter Madison and husband Ellison Parham, Colorado Springs, CO; granddaughter Emma Zimmermann, Lakewood, CO, and “magnificent” great grandson, Jude Murphy Parham, Colorado Springs, CO. A mass will be held at St. Michael the Archangel in Cary, NC on April 3, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. Following the service, Colonel Murphy will be interred at the columbarium in the church courtyard with full military honors. If desired, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Colonel Murphy’s memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

William Murphy

May 22, 1941 - March 27, 2023