J. Edward Murphy Jr.

Captain J. Edward Murphy, Jr., USN (Ret.), of Williamsburg, Virginia died on December 12, 2014. He was 94 years old. Born in New York City on April 19, 1920, he grew up in White Plains, New York. Upon graduation from Georgetown University in 1942, he entered the U.S. Navy where he served for more than thirty years. His service included five at sea commands, primarily destroyers, as well as command of the ASW Tactical School in Norfolk. While attending the Naval War College, he received a Masters’ Degree in International Affairs from George Washington University.

After retiring from the Navy, Captain Murphy and his late wife resided in Virginia Beach for more than twenty years where he was active in a number of civic, charitable and religious organizations. He and his wife moved to Williamsburg Landing in 1995 where he was active in the community including serving as a past president of the Landing Residents Board and as a Lay Eucharistic Minister at St. Bede Catholic Church.

He was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Elizabeth Konvalinka Murphy. He is survived by thirteen nieces and nephews: Frank J. Wood of Bristol, VA; Elizabeth M. Wood of New York, NY; Christopher J. Wood of Concord, NH; Cynthia W. Kirkpatrick of Spokane, WA; David B. Wood of Pittsburgh, PA; Melissa W. Rubino of Belle Vernon, PA; Carolyn W. Plasson of Park City, UT; Scott T. Murphy of Pensacola, FL; Lori A. Murphy of Burlingame, CA; Dr. Gregory F. Murphy of Greenville, NC; John W. Konvalinka III of Lincoln, MA; Elizabeth Konvalinka Wray of London, UK and Christopher R. Konvalinka of Bahama, NC. He is also survived by his brother-in-law John W. Konvalinka, Jr. of Princeton, NJ.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, December 18 at 11am at St. Bede Catholic Church in Williamsburg. A reception will follow the service. Interment at Arlington National Cemetery will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to “Living Our Mission”, St. Bede Catholic Church, 3435 John Tyler Highway, Building B, Williamsburg, VA 23185 or the “Williamsburg Landing Benevolence Fund”, 5700 Williamsburg Landing Drive, Williamsburg, VA 23185.