James Oliver "Jim" Murphy

LTC James O. “Jim” Murphy (US Army, Ret.), age 75 of Temple, died Monday, October 21, 2019 in Temple. Services will be held at 10:00am Saturday, November 16, 2019 at Christ Episcopal Church. Private family burial, with full military honors, was held at Bellwood Memorial Park.

Jim Murphy was born on January 6, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois to the late James O. Murphy, Sr. and Jean Sauer Murphy. He graduated from Dundee High School in Dundee, Illinois in 1962. He married Sharon Phillips on June 11, 1978. Jim earned his Bachelors of Business Administration degree from American Technological University and his Masters in Systems Management from University of Southern California. Jim enlisted in the US Army in September of 1965 at Fort Wolters, Texas, beginning his almost 25-year Army career which took him to Alexandria, Virginia, Seoul, South Korea, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Lexington, Kentucky and Fort Hood, Texas. He was a pilot, serving two tours in Vietnam. Jim was a highly decorated Army officer, retiring in 1989 as a Lieutenant Colonel, receiving many commendations including Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, 53 Air Medals, Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (2), Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (4), Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Unit Citation w/palm, Master Aviator Badge and Overseas Service Bars (4).

After his military career, Jim entered law enforcement in 1989 serving as Deputy Sheriff with the City of Alexandria, Virginia, Sheriff’s Department and later as a police officer for Fairfax County, Virginia Police Department. Jim retired from law enforcement in 2001 and moved to San Antonio, Texas for his wife’s position with the Department of Defense.

Survivors include his loving wife of 41 years, Sharon Phillips Murphy of Temple; a son, Sean Murphy and wife Lisa Moremo-Murphy of St. Charles, Illinois; two grandsons, Alex and Colin of St. Charles, Illinois; sisters, Donna Richter of South Bend, Indiana, Claudia Taylor of Brentwood, Tennessee, Kim Atkins of O’Fallon, Illinois and Jenny Espinosa of Coral Gables, Florida; and numerous nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given in Jim’s name to Temple Ronald McDonald House, Texas Great Pyrenees Rescue, Gold Ribbon Rescue or to Wounded Warriors.