MURPHY RAY E

MAJ Ray "Murph" E. Murphy was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 12/21/2012 at the age of 70.4
Hayward, CA
Flight Class 67-20
Date of Birth 07/16/1942
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with DIV ARTY 25 INF in 67-68, 54 AVN in 70, 2/32 ARTY in 70-71
Call signs in Vietnam BLASTER, BIG DADDY
This information was provided by Sammie Wiliams

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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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


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