On August 29, 2009, my Great-Uncle Duane Murphy passed away at the age of 90. Duane, whose official given name was Harry after his father, was 90 years old and living at the Englewood Manor nursing home, in the early stages of Alzheimier’s Disease. Duane (standing on the right in the photo at left with my Grandpa and their Mom Edith) was my Grandpa Murphy’s brother and he is fondly remembered by his family for his dry wit and his sarcastic sense of humor, which apparently trickled down to some of his extended family over the years.
Duane served in the United States Army during World War 2, stationed in Japan, working as an aide to General MacArthur. My Grandpa remembers going to see him graduate from Officer’s Candidate School in Fort Riley, Kansas, in 1941, the year he graduated from high school. After the war ended Duane served in the Army Reserves for 14 years, retiring from the service as a Major.
The Murphy family: Louise, Duane, Edith (mother), Harold (my Grandpa), and Harry (father)
In civilian life, he worked as an accountant and auditor working for the Ohio Paper Company, the Dayton Steel Foundry, and eventually for the State of Ohio, from which he retired. He then went on to volunteer his services in the finance department of Good Samaritan Hospital.
Although we seldom socialized with Duane and his family, my parents became close with his daughter Bobbie back in the mid-1980’s and by default I would socialize with his granddaughter Becky and her younger brother Charles. Most recently, we all visited Duane at the nursing home on Saturday, December 13, 2008, to celebrate his 90th birthday on December 9. Here I was reunited with Becky after more than twenty years.
I attended the nice service at the Tobias Funeral Home in Englewood on Thursday, September 3. It was nice to see all of Duane’s family surround him and hear testimonies by Bobbie and Becky of how much he had meant to their lives. It was nice to see Charles again as well, although I doubt he remembered me from the rambunctious days in the 80’s. Duane’s son Mike, who lives in North Carolina, was also at the service and asked me to serve as a pallbearer. And although I hadn’t met his children (at least that I recall), I got to meet three other second-cousins Sara, Matthew, and Jonathon, all carrying on the Murphy name.
I did not attend the burial service at the Glen Haven Memorial Gardens in Donnellsville, but I understand that it was memorable as Duane received a 21-gun salute and a rendering of Taps. The flag was folded and presented to his widow Norma. After the service was a gathering at the Happy Corner Church of the Brethren. I found it ironic that my family had always been associated with the Brethren, and we never knew that Duane was a member. It makes one wish that we had been more involved with him and his family.
Presented here are some photos collected from various sources of Duane over the years, culminating in our last meeting with him in December 2008.
Duane with his sister Louise and my Grandma Loretta. Their husbands Carroll and Harold (seen in the pictures that they’re holding) were off to war
Duane in 1949 on the horse Pepper
Duane and his wife Norma with their kids Bobbie and Mike
Duane, Louise, and my Grandpa on the occasion of their Mother’s passing . Photo taken on March 25, 1985.
My Grandpa’s last meeting with his brother on December 13, 2008…
…and my last meeting with him as well
2009 will continue…
A nice tribute to Uncle Duane and some neat old pictures.
Mom
September 14th, 2009
I’m sure Dad would like to see this posting. Next time any of us are over at his apartment, we should bring this up on his computer.
Very nice job Brad.
Bev
September 15th, 2009