Loyal Walter Murphy, III's Obituary
Loyal Walter Murphy III, 73, of Memphis died peacefully after a long illness on Saturday, August 11, 2012, with his wife of 52 years at his bedside. Murphy was born in Macon, GA and moved to Memphis as a child. He attended Snowden Elementary. He attended Training School and graduated from Messick High School. A third-generation surveyor and engineer, Murphy graduated from Vanderbilt with a degree in civil engineering. While at Vanderbilt he met the love of his life, Kathryn Stockton, a student at Peabody College for Teachers, which was not yet part of Vanderbilt. Introduced by mutual friends, the couple married in July of 1960, shortly after their graduation. They were fond of saying that they honeymooned first in Florida and then in Fort Sill, OK, where they spent the first 6 months of married life while Murphy served in the Army Artillery Corps. He was discharged as a First Lieutenant. As a young engineer at Ellers and Reaves Consulting Engineers, he opened a branch office for the firm in New Orleans, where he aided in the design and construction of the International Trade Mart. After returning to Memphis, he founded a civil engineering business with his father and eventually became sole owner. He was licensed as a Professional Engineer in several states and was recognized on local, state, and national levels for contributions to civil and structural engineering; he served as a resource for forensic engineering, earthquake safety, and engineering ethics. In addition to assisting with the design of the Trade Mart in New Orleans, he was the structural engineer for the first renovation of the Orpheum Theater in Memphis, and for a renovation at Immaculate Conception Cathedral. Among many professional recognitions, he was named the Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers’ Young Engineer of the Year in 1969. In 1975 and 76, he served as president of the Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers and as a Tennessee director of the National Society of Professional Engineers. He was a founding member of National Academy of Forensic Engineers and served as its president in 1989. He was a Fellow of the National Society of Professional Engineers and of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and was a member of the Engineers Club of Memphis and of the Memphis Rotary Club. Murphy was a man of many talents and interests: among other endeavors, as an adult he earned a private pilot’s license and earned a Master’s degree in Industrial Systems Analysis. Music was a lifelong passion: he played the guitar and, to a lesser extent, the banjo and piano. In high school he sang in a gospel quartet, and as an adult sang baritone in the Chancel Choir of his church. He enthusiastically supported the musical ventures of his children, in-laws, and grandchildren. An avid vegetable gardener, he especially enjoyed growing grape tomatoes to share with members of his Sunday School class and choir. Other interests included landscape painting, composing poems and songs for Sunday School lessons, flying model airplanes, and taking continuing education courses at Rhodes College. Family and church were cornerstones of his life. Murphy was a member of Lindenwood Christian Church in Memphis, and of its precursor, Linden Avenue Christian Church, since he was a young child. During the short periods of adult life that he did not live in Memphis, he remained involved with the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ. Murphy held many leadership roles at Lindenwood including Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the Elders, and head of a pastoral search committee. Murphy was a Life Elder at Lindenwood. In addition to singing in the choir, he was, at different times, a teacher of high school youth, of the Friendship Class, and of the Carl Stokes Class. He was a guest teacher for other Sunday School classes and a frequent unofficial photographer for church events. He and his wife were Meals on Wheels volunteers through MIFA for over a decade. He is survived by his devoted wife, Kathryn. In addition he leaves his son, Loyal IV, his daughter Kathryn Anderson, and their spouses. He leaves 2 grandchildren, Loyal Patrick Murphy and Suzanna Anderson. Memorials may be sent to Lindenwood Christian Church, to either the Music Fund or the Bethany Hills Camp Fund. Memorials may also be sent to MIFA or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Visitation at Memorial Park (5668 Poplar) on Monday, August 13, from 5 until 7 p.m. Burial at Memorial Park on Tuesday, August 14, at 9:30 a.m., followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. at Lindenwood Christian Church (2400 Union Avenue). A light luncheon will take place at the church afterwards.
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