Robert F. Murphy

Robert Francis Murphy (aka Uncle Bob) was born at St. Bernard’s Hospital in Chicago, Illinois on April 11, 1926 to John Basil Murphy and Marie Frances Murphy. He grew up on the southside of Chicago where he attended Visitation Parish which was the largest Catholic parish at that time. He attended Visitation Grammar School and later attended the Saint Ignatius High School run by the Jesuit priests. After high school, “Uncle Bob” who he was fondly referred to by most, attended college at the University of Chicago for a year. Following this he held various jobs until he joined the United States Army in 1944 where he stayed for almost 2 years. He then joined the Chicago Police Department where he worked for 23 years. He was widely known as the dancing cop in downtown Chicago and was called Officer Friendly who also was a guest on Bozo’s Circus. Towards the end of his career in law enforcement he worked in the intelligence division. In 1979 Uncle Bob moved to Lodi, California to be closer to his sister Jane Langdon DeGroot and her family. Bob took great pleasure in helping to raise his great niece Tiffany Langdon. His most precious and remembered moments were taking her on walks to the park, taking her to nursery school, and laughing at her silly sayings. Bob loved cars and also enjoyed walking all over town and meeting friends for coffee and bagels. Bob was preceded in death by his mother and father, John Basil Murphy and Marie Frances Murphy sisters Patricia O’Brien, Elizabeth Murphy Covey, Marie Celine Murphy, Jane Langdon DeGroot; brothers John (Jack) Basil Murphy, Joseph Murphy, and by his nephew Michael Langdon. He is survived by many nieces and nephews from Chicago: Kathy Clemens, Maureen O’Neil, Jane Mary Kuchar, Mary Kay Mottl, Susan Tuskey, John Murphy, Jr, Timothy Murphy, Robert Murphy, Lois Recchia, Mary Cooney, Eileen Rupprecht and Nancy Barrett. He is also survived by nieces and nephews from California: Mary Langdon Vink, Timothy Langdon, John Langdon, Katie Langdon Gauuan, Thomas Langdon, Martin Langdon, and Paul Langdon. Great nieces and great nephews include Tiffany Langdon, Lindsay Gauuan Silva, Coby Vink Turner, Lia Vink Rodriguez, Casey Vink, Nicole Vink, Kelly Vink, Robert Langdon, Tim Langdon Jr, Paige Langdon, Shelby Langdon, Jeff Langdon, Brett Langdon, and Kelly Langdon. The family wishes to give special thanks to beloved friend Hetty Boland and family for always being there to take care of Uncle Bob’s needs. Services will be on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at St. Bernadette’s Church at 2544 Plymouth Rd., Stockton, CA. with visitation from 9-10, rosary at 10:00 and the funeral at 10:30. Burial will be at the San Joaquin Catholic Cemetery (719 E. Harding Way) following the funeral.