William R. “Bill” Murphy, 88, of Seneca, KS, died Sunday morning, December 25, 2005, at Life Care Center in Seneca.

He was born September 14, 1917, in Seneca, the son of Glenn F. and Irma B. Bruner Murphy. He grew up in Seneca, attended Seneca Public Schools, graduating from high school in 1935. While he was in school, Bill worked at the Jermane Music House and later at Jenkins Market and Tate’s Grocery Store, where he learned meat cutting. Following graduation he attended Gem City Business College in Quincy, IL.

In 1939 he began employment as an auditor for the Social Security Department and in 1940 for the U.S. Naval Department in Washington, DC. On August 31, 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps where he served with the 1st Marine Air Wing in the Asia-Pacific Theater and participated in the consolidation of the northern Solomons and the occupation of northern China. He was also stationed in the United States for a time, and was discharged after six years service as a Technical Sergeant and a Paymaster.

On January 1, 1941, he married Dorothy F. Young in Washington, DC. They lived there and also at Camp Lejune, NC. After his discharge in the fall of 1948, they returned to Seneca. His wife Dorothy preceded him in death on March 15, 1988. He moved to the Terrace Heights Apartments in Seneca in 1991.

In Seneca, Bill was employed as a route salesman for Schulze and Birch Co., in sales for Banker’s Life, as a meat cutter with Louis Slocum at Jenkins Market, and cut meat at Farrell’s IGA for 13 years. He operated the meat department at the A & P Store on Main Street for eight years until it closed. He worked as a meat cutter for several other businesses including Heideman Locker, Seneca Meat & Processing, and Ray’s IGA, all in Seneca, before retiring in May 1994.

He was a member of the First Congregational Church where he sang in the church choir many years, the Seneca Lodge #39 AF & AM, the Earle W. Taylor Post #21 of the American Legion, and the Seneca Memorial Post #7458 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, all in Seneca. He was a former member of the Seneca Lion’s Club and the Seneca Barber Shop Choir.

Survivors are three sons, Michael Murphy, Littleton, CO, Dennis Murphy, Seneca, Tim Murphy, Kansas City, KS; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Besides his wife Dorothy he was preceded in death by a brother, Max Murphy on August 25, 1960 and a sister Mary B. Murphy onMarch 2, 2000.

Funeral service will be 11 AM Wednesday at the First Congregational Church in Seneca. Family will meet with friends at the church for an hour preceding the service. Burial will be with military honors in the Seneca City Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be given for the First Congregational Church of Seneca or the Nemaha County Training Center, and sent in care of the family.