Paul W. Murphy Obituary (1919 - 2008)

PONTIAC - Paul W. Murphy, 88, Pontiac, died at 5:10 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 29, 2008) at OSF St. James John W. Albrecht Medical Center, Pontiac. His funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Pontiac, with Monsignor Thomas Mack officiating. Burial will follow at St. Paul Catholic Cemetery, Odell. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Friday at Duffy Funeral Home, Pontiac. Paul was born May 22, 1919, in Mankato, Minn., the son of M. Leo and Loretta Savage Murphy. He is survived by one sister, Mary Sullivan, Odell; and one brother, Edmond A. (Eloise) Murphy, Blackstone; several nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, and one sister. He had been a farmer in Blackstone and near Farmer City before moving to Pontiac where he was employed at Interlake Steel for 16 years until retirement. He attended rural grade school near Odell, graduate of Moore TWP in Farmer City High School. He was a fourth degree Knight of Columbus in Odell. He was a member of VFW Post 886, Pontiac; Livingston County Farm Bureau; and the American Legion, Ransom. He was a member at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Pontiac, and a lifelong member at St. Bernard Church of Blackstone. Paul was in the U.S. Navy for six years during World War II, serving as a Marine medic. Memorials may be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church, Pontiac.