Ralph Culwell Murphy
d. February 1, 2010
Date Died: February 01, 2010
COTTONDALE -- Ralph Culwell Murphy, 79, a retired General Dynamics dispatcher and former owner of G&M Chevron, went to be with our Lord on Monday, Feb. 1, 2010 in Bridgeport.
Funeral: 2 p.m. Sunday at Hawkins Funeral Chapel. Interment: East Bridgeport Cemetery. Family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Rev. Johnny Irish will officiate. Pallbearers: Joe Earl Murphy, Jack George, Terry George, Tom Murphy, Tim Murphy, Matthew George, Bradley George, and Bryan George. Honorary Pallbearers: Doug Gentry, Merlin Remmelle, Virgil Oates, John Davidson, and Bobby Brazier.
Ralph was born on July 10, 1930, the son of Joseph Earl and Myrtle (Culwell) Murphy, in Cottondale. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Bridgeport.
Upon graduating Salutatorian from Paradise High School in 1947, Ralph went to work as a dispatcher for Convair. Aside from his two-year stint spent serving our country in the Army, Ralph worked at Convair/ General Dynamics/ Lockheed (as it went through name changes) for 47 years, retiring from there in 1995. But he wasn't finished working. Ralph and his brother-in-law, Joe Gilliland, bought G&M Exxon (later becoming Chevron) in Bridgeport in 1983. There, he pumped gas, changed oil, and fixed flats until he retired in 2006 at the age of 76.
Ralph was a lifetime sports enthusiast and an excellent athlete. A very gentle man by nature, he was a fierce competitor on the field of play. Although he rarely raised his voice, many an opponent felt his presence as he slid into second base or went for a rebound under the basket. As his playing days ended, he continued to be active in sports and coached Little Leaque Baseball in Bridgeport for well over a decade. Many young men learned the power of sports through hard play and integrity from Ralph.
Of course he was an ardent supporter of his children and grandchildren, never missing an activity that wasn't too far away. He taught them valuable lessons such as: "There's a reason they give you five fouls in a game. You need to use them." In addition, Ralph was a longtime supporter of Bridgeport Bulls Sports. He was a fixture at home football games, where he was a season ticket holder for decades, right up to his passing.
Ralph was preceded in death by the mother of his children, Bertie Gilliland Murphy and four sisters: Alyn Gentry, Earlyn Jones, Velma Lee George, and Billy Baker.
Those left behind to cherish his memory: daughters: Kieron Diffenderfer and husband, Paul of Bridgeport, Carol Martin and husband Mark of Bridgeport; sons, Ritchard Murphy and wife, Tammy of Bridgeport, Paul Murphy and wife, Shelly of Arlington; 9 grandchildren: Laura Janese, Shiloh Shannon, Jennifer Dulaney, Stephanie Murphy, Shea, Brie, and Chase Martin, Jory and Reese Murphy; 4 great grandchildren: Kameron, Collin, Michalyn and Mikenna; brothers, Raymond Murphy of North Carolina, Joe Ed Murphy of Bedford; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Hawkins Funeral Home Bridgeport, 940-683-2211