John Hope Murphy, born January 13, 1927 passed away at his home in Atlanta, GA on July 19, 2017. An Atlanta native, John graduated from Boys High and served in the United States Navy during World War II. After the war he worked with the atomic bomb program associated with The Sandia Corporation in Albuquerque, NM. He then returned to Atlanta where he went on to earn his Doctor of Philosophy at Georgia Institute of Technology. A professor at Georgia Tech he taught Mechanical Engineering and had a love of mathematics and sciences. During his teaching career at Georgia Tech John spent a year teaching in Wales as an exchange professor. For a brief period of time John and his long time friend, George Lenaeus started the Norsk Marine Company in Villa Rica, GA, building sail boats. John also spent a summer working with the team that developed the Odeillo Solar furnace in the Pyrenees Mountains, France. Prior to his retirement he was working at The Georgia Tech Experiment Station. After his retirement from Georgia Tech he enjoyed tutoring students in calculus, trigonometry and other higher mathematics in his home. John also had a great appreciation for art and music. He enjoyed playing the trumpet and painting in his retirement years. An avid reader, he was always reading a novel, classical literature or studying the latest technical mathematical theories. John is survived by his wife, Diane and his six children, John Hope Murphy, Jr., (Donna), Canton, GA, Mary Murphy Chandler, Tallahassee, FL, Dana Murphy-Parker, Philadelphia, PA, Margaret Murphy, Statesboro, GA, Catherine Murphy, Atlanta, GA, and Jennie Hess (Jordan), Marietta, GA, fifteen grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren, and his sister-in-law, Ann Murphy (Frank). John was predeceased by his brothers, Dr. Michael V. Murphy and Frank D. Murphy and his grandson, Nathan Parker. A Funeral Mass will be held at The Cathedral of Christ The King, 2699 Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30305, on July 31st at 10:30 A.M., reception following at the Cathedral. In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations be made to Catholic Charities USA (National Office) www.catholiccharitiesusa.org; St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or to the charity of your choice.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18