Charles Joseph Murphy

Charles J. Murphy, Sr., age 92, died on September 6, 2018 in Towson, MD. 

The son of Bernard A. and Sadie C. Murphy, Charles is survived by his children Diane Warner (Michael), Mary Angela Rutter (Eugene), Elizabeth Flerlage (Theodore), Paul Murphy (Lynn), and John Murphy (Genene), daughter-in-law Carrie Murphy and son-in-law Eric Mulholland.

Also surviving are grandchildren Cailin Streckfus (Kirk), Matthew Warner (Holly), Charles Rutter (Victoria), Allison Heldmann (Brian), Sean Rutter, Stephen Warner, Douglas Murphy, Meaghan Sponseller (Kyle), Timothy Flerlage (Jamie), Jack Murphy, Peter Murphy, Gillian Murphy (Fabio), and Madeleine Murphy and 5 great grandchildren.

Charles was predeceased by his wife of 68 years, Angela, (2016) and his sons Charles J. Murphy, Jr. (2016) and Captain Stephen F. Murphy, USN (2013), as well as his parents and 7 siblings.

Born in the Irvington neighborhood of west Baltimore, Charles graduated from Mount St. Joseph High School and joined the Navy in 1944.  He served as S1/c (ARM) on PBM Mariner aircraft.  After two years service, he returned to Baltimore and worked for a time at the Western Maryland Railroad offices.  He graduated from Loyola College (now Loyola University Baltimore) in 1952.  Charles and Angela lived their entire married life in Catonsville, MD.

Charles spent most of his working life in the Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. Courthouse in Baltimore, first as a judge's secretary, then a courtroom bailiff, and for many decades as a court reporter in the criminal division and grand jury.  When he retired, he was lauded as the last "pen and ink" court reporter in the courthouse.

Retirement allowed Charles time for simple hobbies that included gardening, photography, woodworking, and woodcarving.  He created many beautiful sculptures that are now precious keepsakes.   When his youngest son was a student at the U. S. Naval Academy, Charles began a devotion to Navy Football that lasted throughout his life.

A man of quiet, enduring faith, Charles was a Eucharistic Minister for St. Mark's Catholic Parish in Catonsville for many years.

Charles weathered a difficult childhood to live a life marked by gentleness and gratitude.  He was a devoted husband and father who was, despite the pandemonium created by a home full of children, amazingly even-tempered and unfailingly generous with his time, wise counsel, and unwavering love of his family.  He was remarkable for his humility and kindness, as well as for his humor.  His many descendants will remember Charles with love and a smile.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, September 21, 2018 at 11:00 am, Our Lady of the Angels Chapel at Charlestown Retirement Community, 711 Maiden Choice Lane, Catonsville, MD.  The family will receive friends 30 minutes prior to the service.  Parking at Charlestown is reserved in the Charlestown Square parking lot within walking distance of the Chapel.  Interment following the Funeral Mass at Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery, Owings Mills, MD.  In lieu of flowers or other expressions of sympathy, contributions are encouraged to the Maryland Food Bank, 2200 Halethorpe Farms Road, Baltimore, MD 21227 or online at: https://mdfoodbank.org/donate?

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