William John McMurray

Mr. McMurray was born on July 12, 1928, in Gardner, Massachusetts, where he spent his early years. Following his graduation from Gardner High School, he studied acting at the Feagin School of Drama and Radio in New York and subsequently acted in various off-Broadway, summer stock, and touring productions, including Diana Barrymore’s summer and traveling productions of Joan of Lorraine.

During the Korean War, which ended his acting career, he served in the United States Army at the White Sands Proving Ground at Alamogordo, New Mexico.

After his army service, Mr. McMurray took advantage of the G. I. Bill and enrolled at Middlebury College, graduating in 1957 with a major in English. He subsequently earned an M. A. at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and a Ph.D. at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

His academic career began in 1961 at the then Victoria College in British Columbia and was followed by three years at the University of Kentucky. In 1965, he joined the English department at the then Madison College, where he remained until his retirement in 1992. He served as the head of the department for four years in the early seventies, but his primary interest was introducing his students to 19th-century American literature, especially the writing of William Dean Howells and Henry James, about whom he had published articles in various scholarly journals. He was also the author of a book on Howells.

Mr. McMurray is survived by his wife, Mary Gaines McMurray, whom he met at Middlebury College and married in 1958. Other survivors include two sons, Price Gaines McMurray of Flower Mound, Texas, and William John McMurray Jr. of Dunedin, Florida, and four grandchildren.

At Mr. McMurray’s request, there will be no services.

Memorial contributions may be made to the William and Mary Scholarship Fund in care of the James Madison University Foundation, MSC 3604, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807.

Lindsey Funeral Home and Crematory in Harrisonburg is handling arrangements and online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.lindseyharrisonburg.com.