More detail on this person: Ray Eugene Murphy
took the pilot's seat for his final solo flight on
the morning of December 21, 2012. A man of action
and few words, he is survived by his mother, Ruth
E. Murphy, his brothers, Todd Murphy and Richard
Murphy, daughter, ElizaBeth Gilligan and her
husband Douglas, his son, Dana Murphy and his
life partner Brian, his grandchildren, Brianna
Gilligan-Luhrman, and grandson, Patrick Gilligan,
and his great-granddaughters, Alexis and Olivia
Luhrman and many dear friends. His wife of 46
years, Pamela preceded him in death.
A son of a military family, Ray was born in July
of 1942 in Bellefontaine and travelled the world
but settled in Hayward, California. He joined the
US Army as a sharpshooter when he was 18. He
volunteered for two tours in Vietnam. As a
Lieutenant and company commander he was also a
helicopter pilot. On one noted flight he landed,
under heavy fire, on a hilltop to rescue fellow
soldiers. He was awarded two Bronze Stars and a
Purple Heart, among other commendations. His
love of flying led him to share that passion with
students as he taught both fixed wing and rotor
students from the late 1970s until this year. His
teaching style was supportive but firm; always
praising hard work and dedication and was well
loved by his students. After retiring from Army a
Major, he continued to serve his country and his
passion in the Federal Aviation Administration at
the Oakland FSDO and retired a Principal
Operations Inspector. No one who knew him was
surprised when in last year's Reno Air Race
tragedy, he piloted the Huey helicopter that
ferried wounded to local hospitals and was
subsequently awarded the prestigious 2012
Eurocopter Golden Hour award from the Helicopter
Association International. His compassion and
generosity were shared with all. We love and miss
you.
Services will be held Wed, Jan 16 at the Lone Tree
Cemetery at 3:30 p.m. with a reception to follow
at the Moose Lodge.
Published in San Francisco Chronicle from January
14 to January 16, 2013
Burial information: Lone Tree Cemetery
This information was last updated 03/03/2012
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