William A. H. Murphy

September 4, 1917 - August 12, 2016

William A. H. Murphy, age 98, of Rochester, passed away Friday, August 12, 2016, in Good Samaritan Hospice, Heritage Valley Beaver. Born September 4, 1917, in Pittsburgh, a son of the late Frederick C. and Amy Olive Hartzel Murphy, he was the retired funeral director, and vice-president of the William Murphy Funeral Home, Inc., Rochester, of which he was the third generation. He was a member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Rochester, and a former Sunday school teacher. William was a World War II U.S. Army veteran where he served as a sergeant in the Eye Ear Nose and Throat Dept. of the Staunton Military Hospital, Staunton, VA. He was a member of the Rochester F&AM Lodge 229; a former Cub Pack Leader and Cub Football Coach for the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church and a former assistant coach with the Rochester Little League. He was the last surviving charter member of the Rochester Beaver Lion's Club and former president; a Melvin Jones Recipient with Lion's Club International; a former president of the Beaver County Funeral Directors' Association; a member of the Walter S. Roth Rochester American Legion Post 498; a member and former president of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce, and past board member of the Rochester Public Library. A 1935 graduate of Rochester High School, he attended Geneva College and Business School and graduated from the Renouard School of Mortuary Science, New York City, NY. William loved cheering for the Pirates and was formerly an avid bowler belonging to two area bowling leagues. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63, years, Ruth E. Hench Murphy in 2003 and an infant son in 1942. Surviving are one daughter and son-in-law, Kay Ann and William F. Price, Port Huron, MI; one son and daughter-in-law, William F. "Rick" and Lynn L. Murphy, Brighton Twp.; five grandchildren, Brian C. Murphy and his wife Faith, Rochester; Amy E. Murphy, Charlotte, NC; Tiffany M. Milne and her husband Michael, Brighton Twp.; Douglas W. Price and his wife Cheryl, Grand Blanc, MI, and Patrick J. Price and his wife Tamara, Farmington Hills, MI, and six great-grandchildren, Nicholas Price, Sarah Price, Amara Dreher, Parker and Ella Murphy, and Geno Milne. Friends will be received Tuesday from 2 to 8 p.m. in the WILLIAM MURPHY FUNERAL HOME, INC., 349 Adams St., Rochester. A service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. in Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Rochester. Officiating will be his pastor, the Rev. Gregory S. Clagg. Entombment will be in Zelienople Mausoleum. The family wishes memorial contributions be made to the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 393 Adams St., Rochester, PA 15074. We wish to thank the Good Samaritan Hospice, Beaver, for the kindness to our family and comfort given to our dad.