Frank Murphy, Jr.

Frank Murphy, a Loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather went to be with his Lord and Savior on July 22, 2020 at Mary Washington Hospital.

Frank was born to James and Margaret Murphy on December 9, 1923 in Olney, Illinois, the 7th of nine children. Five of the Murphy brothers served their country during World War II. 

Frank attended Olney Township High School.  He enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and saw action in World War II as a torpedo bomber gunner.  During his tour in the Navy he served in the Philippines and Okinawa, where he flew 150 missions.

After the war Frank married the girl next door, Constance Rose Peer on June 10, 1949.  Connie preceded him in death on February 29, 2016.  They were married 67 years.

He attended college at the University of Illinois, graduating in 1950 with a BS degree in Political Science. 

On July 24, 1951 he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.  His career took him and his growing family to Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois, Parks AFB IN Fairfield, California, Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton Ohio, Bolling AFB in Washington DC, Hickam AFB in Pearl Harbor, HI, finally finishing his career at The Pentagon.  During the mid-fifties he did a 13 month tour in Korea and in the mid-sixties he did multiple short tours to Vietnam.  Frank retired from the Air Force in 1973.  During his years of service he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with three gold stars, Presidential Unit Citation, American Theater Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon with two bronze stars, Victory Medal, National Defense Medal and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. 

After retirement from the Air Force Frank began a second career in banking at Virginia National Bank, later know as Sovran Bank and now known  as Bank America. He retired from Bank America in 1993.

Never wanting to grow moss and always up for a challenge, Frank opened a bicycle shop with three sons in 1993, expanding to two more locations by 2010  and it remains in business today.

Frank is survived by his five children, Kevin Murphy (Nancy), David Murphy (Laura), Geoffry Murphy (Kay), Daniel Murphy (Kimberly), and Lisa Phillips, fourteen grandchildren and ten great grandchildren and his younger brother Albert Murphy of Columbia, Maryland. 

Frank’s family would like to thank everyone for all the support, kind thoughts and prayers during Franks long battle with COPD.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fredericksburg Food Bank or Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, Virginia.

A private funeral service will be at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, Virginia followed by internment at Quantico National Cemetery with Military Honors.