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Joseph E. “Fred” Murphy, Sr., 83, formerly of East Street, a retired machinist for Bendix Fluid Power Division/Martin Marietta Corporation, Utica, died on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at the Folts Homes in Herkimer.
Mr. Murphy was born in Utica on July 20, 1926, the son of the late Augustine J. and Alice (Schreiner) Murphy. He was united in marriage with the former Carolyn Ann “Mickey” Spellman on November 24, 1949, in Newport.
He was a parishioner of St. John’s Roman Catholic Church, Newport, the Holy Name Society of the Church, and served on the Parish Council.
Joe was a United States Army Veteran of World War II and served in the European Theater in the Infantry 100th Division. He was a 63 year member of Newport Volunteer Fire Company and a member and past commander of West Canada Valley American Legion Post #1524. Joe also served as Herkimer County American Legion Commander and Sergeant of Arms for the American Legion Department of New York. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7220 in Middleville and was awarded the Post #7220 Auxiliary’s Good Citizen Award on April 24, 1989. For the Town of Newport, he served as Justice of Peace from 1958 to 1974, as Councilman from 1974 to 1989, and as Supervisor from 1990 to 1995. He also served as secretary on the Herkimer County Veteran Burial Commission and was on the Firehouse Construction Committee for the new Newport firehouse. May 5, 1999, was declared Joseph E. Murphy Day in Herkimer County by the Herkimer County Legislature in recognition of his many years of service to his county and community. In 2007, Joe was awarded “The Excellence in Service Award” from the Herkimer County Fire Chief’s Association in recognition of his 60 plus years of service to the Newport Fire Company.
Joe was very committed to his community. He was on the committee to build a school that would house all of the West Canada Valley High School students on one campus and went door to door to secure passage of that project. Joe also secured a grant from Iroquois Gas Line to build a pavilion and handicap accessible fishing site on the West Canada Creek in the village of Newport. Joe was always helping people of the community on various projects; from building a house to making sure their ashes were emptied from their furnaces. He took great pride in his family, his community and his country.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Carolyn “Mickey” Murphy, of Folts Homes; his eleven children, Bridget Santa Maria and her husband, Joe, of Frankfort, Patricia Murphy, of Syracuse, John Murphy and his wife, Deborah, of Newport, Timothy Murphy and his wife, Kim, of Williamsburg, VA, Joseph E. Murphy, Jr., and his fianceé, Lynn Sullivan, of Newport, Mary Lou Flansburg, of Newport, Matthew Murphy and his wife, Debra, of Jeffersonville, Mark Murphy and his wife, Kimberly, of Callicoon, Catherine Murphy, of Gloversville, Margaret Schumacher and her husband, Keith, of Cold Brook, and Michael Murphy and his wife, Lisa, of Strasburg, VA; his sister-in-law, Mildred Murphy, of Newport News, VA; 26 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He also leaves his extended family, Elizabeth “Betty” Widay, Mildred and Edward Falk, Katherine “Katie” Wilson, Dorothy Spellman, and John Spellman and his companion, Phyllis Ruggerio. Joe was predeceased by his brother, Jack Murphy; his daughter-in-law, Katherine (Newman) Murphy; his granddaughter, Barbara Ellen Wilson; his grandson, Kimberly Nelson Murphy; an infant son; and by three brothers-in-law, Michael Widay, Everett Wilson and Robert “Hot Rod” Spellman.
Joseph E. “Fred” Murphy, Sr., 83, formerly of East Street, a retired machinist for Bendix Fluid Power Division/Martin Marietta Corporation, Utica, died on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at the Folts Homes in Herkimer.
Mr. Murphy was born in Utica on July 20, 1926, the son of the late Augustine J. and Alice (Schreiner) Murphy. He was united in marriage with the former Carolyn Ann “Mickey” Spellman on November 24, 1949, in Newport.
He was a parishioner of St. John’s Roman Catholic Church, Newport, the Holy Name Society of the Church, and served on the Parish Council.
Joe was a United States Army Veteran of World War II and served in the European Theater in the Infantry 100th Division. He was a 63 year member of Newport Volunteer Fire Company and a member and past commander of West Canada Valley American Legion Post #1524. Joe also served as Herkimer County American Legion Commander and Sergeant of Arms for the American Legion Department of New York. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7220 in Middleville and was awarded the Post #7220 Auxiliary’s Good Citizen Award on April 24, 1989. For the Town of Newport, he served as Justice of Peace from 1958 to 1974, as Councilman from 1974 to 1989, and as Supervisor from 1990 to 1995. He also served as secretary on the Herkimer County Veteran Burial Commission and was on the Firehouse Construction Committee for the new Newport firehouse. May 5, 1999, was declared Joseph E. Murphy Day in Herkimer County by the Herkimer County Legislature in recognition of his many years of service to his county and community. In 2007, Joe was awarded “The Excellence in Service Award” from the Herkimer County Fire Chief’s Association in recognition of his 60 plus years of service to the Newport Fire Company.
Joe was very committed to his community. He was on the committee to build a school that would house all of the West Canada Valley High School students on one campus and went door to door to secure passage of that project. Joe also secured a grant from Iroquois Gas Line to build a pavilion and handicap accessible fishing site on the West Canada Creek in the village of Newport. Joe was always helping people of the community on various projects; from building a house to making sure their ashes were emptied from their furnaces. He took great pride in his family, his community and his country.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Carolyn “Mickey” Murphy, of Folts Homes; his eleven children, Bridget Santa Maria and her husband, Joe, of Frankfort, Patricia Murphy, of Syracuse, John Murphy and his wife, Deborah, of Newport, Timothy Murphy and his wife, Kim, of Williamsburg, VA, Joseph E. Murphy, Jr., and his fianceé, Lynn Sullivan, of Newport, Mary Lou Flansburg, of Newport, Matthew Murphy and his wife, Debra, of Jeffersonville, Mark Murphy and his wife, Kimberly, of Callicoon, Catherine Murphy, of Gloversville, Margaret Schumacher and her husband, Keith, of Cold Brook, and Michael Murphy and his wife, Lisa, of Strasburg, VA; his sister-in-law, Mildred Murphy, of Newport News, VA; 26 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He also leaves his extended family, Elizabeth “Betty” Widay, Mildred and Edward Falk, Katherine “Katie” Wilson, Dorothy Spellman, and John Spellman and his companion, Phyllis Ruggerio. Joe was predeceased by his brother, Jack Murphy; his daughter-in-law, Katherine (Newman) Murphy; his granddaughter, Barbara Ellen Wilson; his grandson, Kimberly Nelson Murphy; an infant son; and by three brothers-in-law, Michael Widay, Everett Wilson and Robert “Hot Rod” Spellman.
Calling hours will be held at the Newport Firehouse, 7370 Main Street, Newport, on Friday, February 5, 2010, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. The following organizations will conduct their respective services at the firehouse on Friday evening: Herkimer County American Legion at 7:30 p.m. and Newport Fire Company at 8:15 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. John’s Church, Newport, on Saturday, February 6, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. The Mass will be concelebrated by Rev. William A. Gorman, Pastor, and Rev. Leo F. Potvin. Spring interment with full military honors will take place in St. John’s Cemetery, Newport.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe’s memory can be made to Newport Volunteer Fire Company, 7370 Main St., Newport, NY 13416 or St. John’s Church Restoration Fund, P.O. Box 475, Newport, NY 13416. Envelopes will be available at the firehouse for both.
Arrangements are under the direction of Autenrith Funeral Home, Newport.
Online tributes at www.autenrithfuneral.com.
