BANGOR – Donald Philip Murphy, 82, passed away April 12, 2013, at a Bangor health care facility. He lived happily in Bangor most of his life. He was born April 10, 1931, at the family farmhouse in Knox, Pa., son of Anne Hutchinson and John Murphy. They later moved to Oil City, Pa., where Don grew up with his brothers and a sister.
He married Bertrand Stinson, who predeceased him. Later in life, Don and Joan A. Durgan Murphy were married for more than 10 happy years. They shared Joan’s family of children, Robert E. and Terri Durgan and two grandchildren, Lindsey F. Durgan and Emilie R. Durgan; and the two families of Linda Durgan Medeiros and Ken Durgan. Along with his stepchildren and grandchildren, his dear friends, Nancy Moore and Pauline Quellette and their families, shared a loving and special place in his life.
Grace United Methodist Church, Bangor, was his church family home where he actively served for more than 40 years. Don served in the U.S. Air Force for more than 20 years, on Air Force bases around the U.S. and Asia. After his military retirement, he worked another 16 1/2 years in Stewart Common at the University of Maine, Orono, retiring in 1987, but not from his amazing cooking. Don was a huge Red Sox Fan and hardly missed listening or watching a game in more than 35 years of play. He was an avid bowler who bowled five times a week and founded a tournament or two throughout the years. His dog, Angel, kept him entertained for 12 years. In 2012, he moved to Maine Veterans Home, Bangor. He is remembered fondly for his faith in God, love of his family and friends, kindness to all, generosity, attention to detail and organization, and thoughtfulness.
A celebration of life will be held 10 a.m. Monday, July 22, at Grace United Methodist Church, 193 Union St., Bangor, with Pastor Gretchen Casey, presiding. Burial with military honors will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 23, at Riverside Cemetery, Woolwich. For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, 193 Union St., Bangor, ME 04401. Arrangements by Kiley & Foley Funeral Service, 299 Union St., Bangor. Don, your family and friends have your faith and love as a guide:
“We thought of you with love today, but that is nothing new. We thought about you yesterday, and the days before that too. Your memory is our keepsake, with which we’ll never part. God has you in his keeping, we have you in our hearts.”
Donald Philip Murphy
