Joseph E. Murray passed away on March 24, 2019, at age 87, surrounded by loving family members. Born in Springfield, MA he was the son of the late Earl Murray and Margaret (Moriarty) Murray. Joe moved to West Springfield in 1941 and attended West Springfield Public Schools graduating in 1949. He attended Drexel University, and received a Bachelors degree in engineering and business at WNEC. Joe was honorably discharged from the United States Air force in 1955. He retired from AT&T as a manager in 1987. During his retirement, he volunteered with refugees helping them to obtain drivers licenses and find employment. He volunteered at homeless shelters, Westfield Public Schools, and church functions. His passions were sailing, reading, traveling to Aruba, making and fixing things around the house, watching football and attending his grand-kids’ sporting events. Family and community members admired him as a hard working, dependable person of great integrity. He was a fair, humble, and fun-loving man who would, with a twinkle in his eye, give you half of his right thumb if you seemed to need it. Joe was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy (McFadden ) Murray in 2000, son Joseph W. in 2006 , infant daughter Ann Theresa in 1961, and siblings Mary Martin and Jack Murray. He leaves behind his children Tom Murray, Jeannie Bein and Eileen Murray; grandchildren Dana Jay and Erin Bein, Nathan and Adam Collier, Keith Otis, Keri and Lily Murray, Kira and Shino Yoshen; and his sister Barbara Bengle and brother Richard Murray. His funeral is Friday March 29th 9 AM at Firtion-Adams Funeral Home, 76 Broad St. Westfield MA. followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 am in St. Mary’s Church. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Calling hours are from 4 – 7 Thursday March 28th at the funeral home.
For his love of reading and the home-delivery services provided to him, donations in his memory may be made to the Westfield Athenaeum, 6 Elm St. Westfield MA 01085.The family would like to thank Caring Solutions and his personal caretaker, Erin Bein.Firtionadams.com
Joseph E. Murray
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