Obituary of William Franklin Murphy

William Franklin Murphy, Jr. was born to Estelle Phillips Murphy and William Franklin Murphy on December 11, 1928 in Salisbury, NC. He met his life-long love Dot Elaine Knight at New Hanover High School in Wilmington, NC. They married October 10, 1948 and recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary with their children and grandchildren. The Murphy family includes Kathy Murphy Fleming, her husband Deryl Ray Fleming, son Andrew Murphy Molchany and his wife, Holly Molchany; Janet Patricia Murphy and her daughters Carly Frances Clements and Kendall Elaine Clements; William Phillips Murphy and his partner Paulo De Almeida; and, Laura Elizabeth Hyatt, husband Robert Jan Hyatt, daughter Jessica Elizabeth Lambert and grandson Ryan Lambert, son Joseph Hogan Hyatt and his wife Carolyn Hyatt; and, daughter Kathryn Anne Hyatt. Lt. Colonel Murphy had a distinguished career in the US Army Corps of Engineers serving in Korea and Viet Nam. He retired in 1970 as the commander of the 539th Engineer Detachment of First Special Forces Green Berets. Subsequently he worked for Bechtel on the DC metro, owned Murphy Construction Company, and retired from Fairfax County Office of Public Works. He constructed the Annex building at Ravensworth Baptist Church where he was a stalwart leader and loving member since 1967. Frank Murphy died bravely and peacefully under Hospice care at home with his family on January 26, 2014. A service honoring his life will be held at the Ravensworth Baptist Church, 5100 Ravensworth Road, Annandale, VA on Saturday, February 1. The family will receive visitors at 3:00, the service begins at 4:00, and a reception follows. The family asks that memorial contributions be made to the church in lieu of flowers. Arrangements have been provided by Advent Funeral & Cremation Services (adventfuneral.com). Burial at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors will be held at a future date.