Rev. Gerald H. Murphy

Rev. Gerald H. Murphy, 87, of Meadville died, Wednesday, December 03, 2014 surrounded by his family at the Marquette Hospice House.

He was born February 10, 1927 in Newport, RI a son of Michael Martin and Alice Helen Raftery Murphy, Sr.  He married Mathilda Ruth Cunningham in the Baldwin-Wallace Chapel, Berea, OH June 21, 1956 and she survives.

He grew up in Newport, RI graduating from its Rogers High School in 1945.  He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration in 1949, his Bachelor of Sacred Theology in 1955 and his Masters of Sacred Theology and Social Ethics in 1956 all from Boston University.  He was ordained in to the United Methodist Church in 1956 and served at the North Saugus Union Church, Saugus, MA from 1954-1956, the Third Street Methodist Church, Williamsport, PA from 1956-1963, Beaver Methodist Church, Beaver, PA from 1963-1966, Harmony-Zelienople United Methodist Church, from 1966-1972, Fox Chapel United Methodist Church, Pittsburgh from 1972-1985 and Chaplain of Wesbury United Methodist Community from 1985 until his retirement in 1995.

He served on many committees of the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church and pioneered a workshop for persons experiencing separation and divorce through the Center for Human Development in Pittsburgh, designed and conducted a workshop on ministering to older adults and a workshop on spiritual dimensions of aging while at Wesbury United Methodist Community.  He was a Pastoral Care volunteer at Meadville Medical Center, a member of the Meadville Round Table, the Tuesday Morning Music Group and the Wesleyan Covenant Group of Stone United Methodist Church.

In his youth he enjoyed spending summers at the family cottage on the shores of Narragansett Bay in Middletown, RI and more recently at the family home in the Chautauqua Institution.  He built the family sailboat JAMMR in 1971.  He also enjoyed the trip to Israel, Paris and Brussels that was a gift from the congregation of Fox Chapel United Methodist Church in 1986 and his 50th Wedding Anniversary trip to England, Wales and Ireland in 2006.

He enjoyed jogging and more recently walking, music, reading, crocheting and singing in the Stone United Methodist Church Choir.

Survivors, in addition to his wife Mathilda Ruth of 58 years, include: a daughter, Aimee M. Doershuk and her husband David of Streetsboro, OH; a son, Michael H. Murphy and his wife Anne Marie of Wilmette, IL; six grandchildren, Nicholas, Jennifer and Kyle Doershuk and Devin, Bryce and Teagan Murphy and nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Ellen M. Grauer; a brother, Michael M. Murphy, Jr., and a nephew, Robert M. Grauer.

Calling hours will be Friday from 4-8 p.m. at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, Inc., 581 Chestnut Street, Meadville.

The funeral service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Stone United Methodist Church, 956 S. Main Street, Meadville with Rev. Sarah Roncolato, Pastor of Stone United Methodist Church; L. Kent Parkhill, United Methodist layman; and Rev. Lisa M. McCauley, Pastoral Therapist, officiating.

Interment will be in Chautauqua Cemetery, Chautauqua, NY

The family suggests memorials be made to Hospice of Crawford County, 464 Pine Street, Meadville, PA 16335 or The Chautauqua Foundation (for the Amphitheater Fund), P.O. Box 28, Chautauqua, NY 14722.

Memories and condolences may be shared at www.waidfuneralhome.net