ENFIELD – Charles Austin Murphy, 81, passed away Jan. 12, 2010, at the Veterans Home, Bangor, where he lived since December 2008. Many workers at the VA home fell in love with Charles and cried when he was taken away. Charlie was born Dec. 12, 1928, in West Enfield, the son of Ronald and Lottie of Enfield. After school in Lincoln, he moved to Fall River, Mass., to live with his sister, Dorothy, and worked as a bellhop in a major hotel. On Aug. 8, 1951, he entered the U.S. Army. After boot camp, he was sent to Korea where he spent 11 months in a combat zone and was lucky to have only the heel of one boot shot off. He was discharged in December 1953, but re-enlisted Feb. 10, 1960, and was sent to the 84th Engineering Battalion at Fort Ord, Calif., and trained to operate heavy equipment. His unit was sent to Thailand to build roads for U.S. and national forces. Charles operated a huge bulldozer. He returned to civilian life in February 1963, and went to work in the Brewer Paper Mill. He also worked in the woods and did construction work. Charles never married, choosing to remain with his Mom and Dad, staying with them until their demise. In the last years of his life, Charles enjoyed cruising the roads in his white Chevy S-10 pickup, visiting friends all over upstate Maine. He is survived by his sisters, Mildred Savage of Lincoln, Ruth Reynolds of Passadumkeag, Charlotte McPheters and Esther Davis of Old Town, and Mariam Gilman of Enfield; and brothers, Gerald of Yarmouth, Francis of Orrington and Stanley of Rome, N.Y. He was predeceased by brothers and sisters, Floyd of Mattawamkeag, Ronald Jr. of Old Town, Dorothy Smith of Fall River, Mass., Beatrice Dismukes of Montgomery, Ala., Evelyn Tourtillotte of Passadumkeag and Loretta Haskell of Austin, Texas. Charles wanted to thank nephew, Ronald Murphy III of Greenbush and Hannah and Dan of Enfield for helping him manage health and financial issues that he was unable to do because of Alzheimer’s. Friends may call 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at Clay Funeral Home, 7 Lee Road, Lincoln, where funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Saturday with the Rev. Jeff Tenney officiating. Spring interment will be at Lincoln Cemetery. This is only the end of Charles’ physical, temporary life. His spiritual, permanent life continues, so please pray that God has prepared a home for him. For an online guest register and to leave written condolences, please visit www.clayfuneralhome.com.
CHARLES AUSTIN MURPHY
