Jerry Murdock

Beloved son, husband, father, and grandfather, Jerry passed away on July 6th, 2013 at Inova Fairfax Hospital after complications resulting from surgery. Born on August 14, 1946 in Missouri to a military family, he spent his high school and college years in Millington, Tennessee after his father retired from the U.S. Navy. Jerry attended Memphis State University, earning a B.S. in Mathematics with a minor in Physics. It was during his college years that he learned to pilot single-engine airplanes. Jerry joined the Army while he was in college, where he was trained to fly helicopters. After serving for a time in the Army he decided to return to college and finish his degree. After college he returned to the military, this time joining the U.S. Navy, where he was a Navigation Flight Officer on the E-2C aircraft.

After leaving the military he began a civilian government career, working as an Engineer in both the Naval Air Systems Command and later the Space & Naval Warfare Systems Command. After a full career with the military and federal government he retired. He then joined the private sector, working with both Anteon and Alion, albeit briefly, as he eagerly sought the freedom of full retirement.

Jerry was much more than a student, Naval Officer, or employee. He was an avid lover of life. He spent his time with his family and friends going boating, fishing, camping, and golfing, to name but a few of his activities. Taking his family for a day on the lake or golfing with his sons and friends brought him great joy. In their youth, when his sons joined soccer teams, he took to the sport as though it were his own. He was a coach and referee, coaching his sons’ teams and working as a league referee with two of his sons, Larry and John. Throughout his life Jerry was committed to his family and friends in the truest sense.

In his spare time, Jerry engaged in his long time hobby of carpentry, as skill he learned from his father and passed on to his children. Jerry, like his father, was also a member of the Scottish Rite of Free Masonry; Jerry 32 degree and his father, Roy, 33 degree.

Jerry always found time for the people in his life, and he enjoyed the companionship that true friendship brought. As his children became older, graduated college, and started their own life journeys, he was ever the father, but also became more of the friend that comes with these life transitions. He never failed to tell his children that he was proud of them and that he loved them. For his children there is no question that he was taken far too soon from this world. For his wife of 29 years he fell short of a promise of roughly 30 plus years together. Though Jerry is gone from us, it was not his time. In fact, it would not be surprising to discover that he had a golf game already scheduled for post-surgery and recovery.

He is survived by his wife Kitty Murdock; his daughters and sons-in –law Emily & Nate Lehsten and Elizabeth & James Manus; his sons Larry, Chris, & John; his granddaughter Norah Manus; and his parents Helen and Roy Murdock. Services will be held at Demaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Road, Springfield, VA 22151. Viewings will be Monday, July 15th, from 2:00 – 4:00 pm and 6:00 – 8:00 pm. The funeral will be Tuesday, July 16th at 11:00 am, followed by a service with full military honors at the Quantico National Cemetery.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). The mailing address is JDRF Central Virginia Chapter, 1801 Libbie Ave, Suite 106, Richmond, VA 23226, or online http://centralvirginia.jdrf.org.