Anthony A. Murphy

We are gathered today to honor and celebrate my dear old Dad's life. for those of you who don't know me, I am Sandra his youngest daughter. My dad Anthony Albert Murphy was born in Mt. Clemens, Michigan on September 25th, 1940. His parents were Katherine Virginia Murphy and Philip Austin Murphy. In 1950 my grandpa decided to move his family to sunny California. My dad was 10 years old when he left the walking up hill to school in the snow life and started to enjoy the weather in Riverside, CA. They moved to Sunnymead, CA a few years later after he helped build the house in Sunnymead with my grandpa. He went to University Junior High School in Riverside, then onto Polytechnic High School. Right after high school in 1959 he was ready to serve his Country and joined the Airforce. He served 4 interesting/fun years in the Airforce. He was stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi; Roswell, New Mexico and France. He had some good stories to tell about this time in his life. I knew when he told me his Airforce stories he had a ton of fun. Going down to Juarez, Mexico from Roswell to have a...well you know. Telling his grandson about the aliens at Roswell. He was also in a Barber Shop Quartet and sang at a Generals Retirement Party. He loved his travels through Europe when he was stationed in France and told me many interesting stories. He decided to settle down after his service. He met my mom Linda at a Church dance, he asked her to dance in November of 1963. They had their 1st date at the Arlington Theatre watching the movie "The Ten Commandments". Then they decided to get married and on January 3rd, 1964 they went to fabulous Las Vegas and tied the knot. In1968 my sister Katherine was born and his life as a father began. In 1972 Laura entered the family and I came along in 1975. My dad worked at Crafton Hills College and then found himself working at UCR. He worked at UCR for 15 years before they offered him his golden handshake. He happily accepted and retired at age 53. He enjoyed his retirement and grandkids he started to have. Then on a rainy day March 10th, 2020 he decided to go onto his next adventure and see all the people he has missed and who are waiting to see him. Now I know he is having a great time up in heaven with my grandpa, Uncle Lorin, and many more. Thanks Dad, I love you and miss you and will see you again one of these years.