Lawrence Murphy

Lawrence N. Murphy, 89, of Johnsville, formerly of Ontario, passed away early Wednesday, September 22, 2010, at County Meadows Care Center. Lawrence was born November 10, 1920 in Philadelphia, PA, eldest child of Negley Wells and Eva Hutchison Murphy.

Raised in Ashland, Ohio, Lawrence graduated in 1939 from Ashland High School. As a youth, he enjoyed hunting, raising mink, and pitching for Ashland County fast-pitch softball games at New Pittsburg.

Lawrence received training at a technical school in Chicago in the building of planes, where he graduated at the head of his class. While teaching in Chicago, servicemen were needed for World War II, and Lawrence joined the Army Air Corps. He served in the 15th Air Force, 463rd bomb group, and 774th bomb squadron from July 5, 1943 to October 31, 1945. He hauled gasoline for refueling B-17 planes in North Africa, Sicily and Italy.

After the war, Lawrence returned to the Mansfield area. He and Mary I. Henry, who survives, were married May 2, 1948. As a young couple they resided in Sandusky, Ohio and Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, where Lawrence worked in the conveyor business. He was Vice President and Chief Engineer of CMP Corp. formerly Convey-all Metal Products in Mansfield, retiring in 1990.

Lawrence was a member of the First Church of God in Ontario, the Morrow County Genealogical Society, and the Morrow County Historical Society, where he served as Trustee Emeritus.

Surviving are his wife, Mary I. Henry Murphy; two daughters, Karen J. Jeffrey Sigsworth of Elyria and Janet K. Daniel Rhodebeck of Johnsville; grandsons, Levi D. and Kent R. Rhodebeck; one sister, Wilma Baker of Arizona; and a host of nieces and nephews. Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Rita Rozea.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 24, 2010, at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 100 S. Lexington-Springmill Rd., Mansfield. Burial will follow in Shauck Cemetery. Friends may call one hour prior to the services, from 1:00-2:00 p.m., Friday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Morrow County Historical Society, P.O. Box 21, Mt. Gilead, Ohio.