Robert O. “Murph” Murphy Jr.
Robert O. “Murph” Murphy Jr., 67, of Butler passed away Tuesday evening at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh with his family by his side.
Born April 22, 1951, in Butler, he was the son of the late Robert O. and Lucille B. Pranulis Murphy Sr.
He was a faithful member of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Prospect, where he was a former financial secretary, former deacon and trustee. He taught Sunday school and Awanas. He worked the sound system for services and sang in the group “Life Gate.” He enjoyed being a part of the nursing home ministries, where he visited Grove Manor and Sunnyview Nursing Homes.
He will be remembered for his knowledge of the Bible, studying the Bible and always reading his daily devotions.
After graduating college, he began his career as an industrial arts teacher at an Ohio high school. He then returned to Butler and worked as the janitor at the former Butler Mall.
Murph was a current employee at Applied Test Systems in East Butler, where he was a senior electrical engineer and he celebrated 37 years of service this past December. He enjoyed his part-time evening job for the past 20 years as he built transducers at Measuretron in Butler.
He was a collector. He collected guns and made his own ammunition. He had a collection of nine sewing machines and made quilts and shirts. He was musically talented, had a collection of instruments, and was known to play unique stringed instruments.
He enjoyed traveling and camping with his family. He loved his dog, Jasper, cats and fish.
He is survived by his loving wife, Janet Fay Cratty Murphy, whom he married on May 10, 2008; a daughter, Melinda (Gary) Benninger of Boyers; his adopted son, Anthony “Tony” Murphy of Ellwood City; six grandchildren; two step granddaughters; one great- grandson; one step great- granddaughter; his sister, Barbara (Doug) Lindey of Butler; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Clair and Peggy Cratty of Butler; his in-laws, Jamie Cratty, Jodi (Charles) Boory and Judy (Andy) Stoops; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Robert O. Murphy Sr.; his mother, Lucille Barbara Pranulis Murphy Stamm; and his stepfather, Warren Stamm.
MURPHY — Visitation for Robert O. “Murph” Murphy Jr., who died Tuesday, June 19, 2018, will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Edward L. Raisley Funeral Home, 387 Main St., Prospect.Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Mount Zion Baptist Church, 2251 Prospect Road, Prospect, with Pastor Ben Oesterling, his church pastor, officiating, and Pastor Jeff Mackay and Pastor Jim Hockenberry, co-officiating.Interment will follow in Mount Zion Baptist Church Cemetery in Prospect.Please visit www.raisleyfuneralhome.com to leave an online tribute.
