Randall Tolman Murrill Jr.

Randall Tolman Murrill, Jr. passed away on August 14, 2015 in Clearwater, Florida. He was born on November 17, 1921 in Miami, AZ. His father, Randall Tolman Murrill, Sr. was a mining engineer for Inspiration Copper Co. When Randall was about two they moved back to their family home in Flat River, MO. His mother, Mary Elise Stophlet Murrill, a graduate of the University of Missouri, took care of her family and was active in the community.

Randy grew up and attended school in Flat River in the Lead Belt of SE Missouri. After graduating with Honors and Tau Beta Pi from Purdue University in 1942 with a chemical engineering degree, he enlisted in the US Army as a private at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis. After basic training, he was accepted for Officers Candidate School, (OCS) at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Army Ordnance and received a commission as 2nd Lieutenant. He left immediately for England. On D-Day + 9, he landed in France. As company officer of the 647th Ordnance Ammunition Company, he supervised the unloading, classifying, and distribution of all types of ammunition to General Patton’s Army. At the conclusion of the war in Europe, he was transferred as the Port Ordnance Officer to Marseille, France to supervise the loading of all classes of ordnance for overseas shipment to the Pacific Theater.

Captain Murrill returned from France on July 4, 1946; August 14th he married his college sweetheart, Jeanne Aileen Fountaine in Bartlesville OK where she had worked for Phillips Petroleum during the war. Randall graduated with an MS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. In 1948 his first job was with E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Co. in the Polychemicals Department at the Sabine River Works in Orange, TX. In 1950, Randy was temporarily transferred to DuPont Engineering Department in Wilmington, DE.

He returned to Sabine River Works in 1952, and in 1954 was transferred to Du Pont’s Washington Works plant in Parkersburg, WV. In 1964 he became Plant Manager at Washington Works. In 1969, he was transferred to Wilmington as Production Manager, Polymer Products Department of the Du Pont, where he was responsible for several

Du Pont plastics plants until his retirement on his 65th birthday in 1986. Randy was a director of the Wilmington Savings Fund Society (WSFS Bank) from 1976 until 1997.

Randy was a lifelong Boy Scout. He earned the rank of Eagle in Flat River, MO. in 1938. In the 1963 when his son joined Troop 3 at the First Presbyterian Church in Parkersburg, WV, he became active in the Boy Scouts again. As a result of his leadership in the Kootoga (Allokak) Area Council of Boy Scouts, he was awarded the Silver Beaver in 1968. After moving to Wilmington, Randy was active in the Del-Mar-Va Council. He volunteered in several capacities including a term as president, and was awarded the Silver Antelope in 1983. As a result of his many contributions to scouting, the BSA National Council recognized him as a Distinguished Eagle Scout in 1987. Randy was very proud that his son, Steve, and grandsons, John Hennigan, Mark and Matt Murrill also earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

In 1969, Randy was chosen as the Distinguished Engineering Graduate at Purdue University, Then in 1993, he was recognized as the Outstanding Chemical Engineering Graduate.

From 1976- 1997, he held leadership positions in Rotary Club of Parkersburg WV, Wilmington, DE, and Dunedin, FL. He was also active in the West Virginia Manufacturing Association, and for more than 20 years as a SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) Counselor in Wilmington, DE. He has been an Elder in the Presbyterian Church since being elected in Parkersburg, WV.

After being snowbirds in Dunedin, Florida for many years, Jeanne and Randy moved to Regency Oaks in Clearwater, FL. in 2007. They have been active members of the community. In 2012, Randy, his son, Steve, and grandson, Mark, traveled to Washington, D.C. on an Honor Flight organized for WWII veterans to visit the WWII Memorial erected to commemorate their service. He was chosen to lay a wreath at the memorial to honor Army veterans.

Randy is survived by his wife of 69 years, Jeanne Fountaine Murrill; his daughter Mary and her husband Don North; by his son Steve and his wife Elizabeth; and by his daughter Karen and her husband Brian Hennigan.

Randy has nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Catherine North Hounfodji and her husband, Raymond and children Sika and Yema; Rebecca Jeanne North; Angela North Marshall and her husband, William and children Coraline and Billy;Mark Stephen Murrill and his wife, Adrienne and children, Jack and Claire; Mary Murrill Smith and her husband, Garrett and son, Parker; Matthew Randall Murrill and his wife Lauren; John Randall Hennigan; Kelly Jeanne Hennigan; Elise Catherine Hennigan

He is also survived by:

His brother, Robert Lawrence Murrill and children, Terry, Sandy, Larry; His sister, Martha Murrill Norvell, and children, Mary, Patty and Don; His sister, Mary Elise McHenry, and children, Mark and Lisa.

In lieu of flowers:

First Presbyterian Church of Dunedin

455 Scotland Street

Dunedin, FL 34698

Suncoast Hospice (Empath Health)

5771 Roosevelt Blvd

Clearwater, FL 33760

Boy Scouts of America Troop 3

c/o First Presbyterian Church

1341 Juliana Street

Parkersburg, WV 26101

Parkersburg Area Community Foundation

with benefit to Wood County Library

P.O. Box 1762

Parkersburg, WV 26102

304 428 4438

Boy Scouts of America Del-Mar-Va Council in Wilmington, DE

Del-Mar-Va Council, Inc

100 W. 10th Street, Suite 915

Wilmington, DE 19801

302 622 3300

Concord Pike Library, Wilmington, DE

3406 Concord Pike

Wilmington, DE 19803