CORNWALL & RED HILL, PENNSYLVANIA - Merton A. Murphy of Red Hill, PA passed away on Thursday, October 8, 2015. He was 82.

Merton was born in Bemidji, MN to the late Wallace and Mamie Murphy and was one of six brothers and sisters. Raised on a farm, Merton put himself through school and graduated from the University of Minnesota. He resided in Cornwall, PA before moving to Red Hill three years ago.

He was formerly employed as a production manager with Honeywell then retired with PPG in 1988. For 29 years, he worked in corporate offices in Minneapolis (MN) Fort Washington (PA), Scotland, Belgium, and Pleasantville (NY). Merton was a member of the Cornwall United Methodist Church and was active in different groups within the church Sunday School, small group, church choir, etc. He enjoyed golfing, gardening, travelling, and coaching and camping when his children were young.

Merton was active in volunteer work throughout his life. He worked with a crisis intervention hotline, for many years with Cornwall Manor in Lebanon, and he worked with his wife hosting couples who were participating in marriage counseling through a Christian counseling center in the Lebanon (PA) area.

He served honorably in the US Army at the end of the Korean War, where he worked with the Signal Corps fielding messages in Okinawa, Japan.

He was the beloved husband of 63 years to Marietta LaFrenier Murphy, devoted father of Linda Murphy Gray and husband Thomas H. Gray, Jr., Rev. Michael A. Murphy and wife Lynn, Kathi Lohr and husband Jim, Becky Murphy and husband Jason Drecksel, and the late Steven Murphy who is survived by his wife Mary. He was the loving grandfather of Erin and Kimberli Gray, Christina, David and Tim Murphy, Ian Murphy and wife Larissa, Ben Murphy and wife Jan, Caleb Murphy and wife Beth, Devon Murphy and wife Julie, Lydia Murphy, Stephanie Balak and husband Eric, Michelle Lohr, Sacha and Bailee Drecksel, and the late Thomas H. Gray, III. He was also the great-grandfather of five.

A memorial service will be held at the Cornwall United Methodist Church, 50 Freeman Drive, Lebanon, PA 17042 on Saturday, October 17th at 11 am. The family will receive friends at the church from 10-11 am prior to the service.

Private burial with military honors will be held at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, PA at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts to Cornwall UMC, PO Box 687, Alden Street, Cornwall, PA 17016, www.cornwallchurch.org, or the Alzheimer s Association, 399 Market Street, Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA 19106, www.alz.org, would be appreciated.

Send condolences to www.varcoethomasfuneralhome.com