Online Obituaries
WILLIAM FRANCIS MURPHY,JR
William Francis Murphy, Jr.
“Bill” “Murph”
Age 80, of Wilmington, DE, died on Saturday, September 5, 2009 at Forwood Manor in Wilmington, DE.
Bill was born in Norwood, MA, raised in Walpole, MA and graduated from Walpole High School. He attended Harvard University, earning a B.A. in chemistry in 1950. He then began a career with the DuPont Company that would span more than 35 years, including positions in atomic energy at the Savannah River Plant near Aiken, SC, and in textile fibers in Kinston, NC, Old Hickory, TN and in Wilmington, DE. He retired from DuPont in 1986 and took a position with the spin-off company, Reemay, Inc. While at Reemay, Bill invented several pleated, non-woven filters which were patented. He retired from Reemay in 1998 and continued to work as a consultant until 2005. Bill was an avid reader, was active in the Darley Swim Club and in Holy Rosary Catholic Church, and served as a eucharistic minister at Wilmington Hospital.
Bill is survived by his wife of 52 years, Joan Girard Murphy; by his brother John D. Murphy of Walpole, MA and sister Maureen Carter of Dover, MA; by his children Elizabeth M. Topp (David) of Lafayette, IN, Kathryn M. Thompson (Daniel) of Baltimore, MD, William F. Murphy, III (Anne) of Westminster, CO, and Byron G. Murphy (Jeanette) of Hockessin, DE; and by his eleven grandchildren. The family is deeply grateful to the community in North Wilmington for their care and support during Bill’s illness, particularly to Dr. Javed Gilani and Bill’s other physicians; to PRO Physical Therapy, Wilmington Hospital, Forwood Manor and Compassionate Care Hospice; and to his friends of long-standing.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2009, at 10:30 am at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Shipley & Weldin Rds., Wilmington, DE. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the American Diabetes Association, 100 West 10th St., Suite 1002, Wilmington, DE 19801 ( https://www.diabetes.org) or to Friends of the Brandywine Hundred Library, 1300 Foulk Rd., Wilmington, DE 19803.
Online condolences or memorial candles visit www.mccreryfuneralhome.com 302-478-2204
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