06/16/08 - NNHS Newsletter - Bill Murden
William P. Murden, Jr.
(d. 10 June 2008)
Newport News High School Class of 1941
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06/16/08 - NNHS Newsletter - Bill Murden
William P. Murden, Jr. Newport News High School Class of 1941 |
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Dear Friends and Schoolmates,
We have another sad edition of the NNHS Newsletter today.
Bill
Murden, Valedictorian of the Class of 1941, and older brother of
John Murden ('60) of VA, passed away in St. Louis,
Missouri on Tuesday, June 10,
2008 at the age of 84.
From John Murden ('60) of VA - 06/15/08 -
"NNHS Alumni":
Carol,
The NNHS Alumni community lost another member
when
William P. Murden, Jr., NNHS Class of 1941, passed away June 10 at the age
of 84 in St. Louis.
Bill was the Valedictorian of the 1941 class. He attended William and Mary College for a year before drafted into the Army during WWII. Upon his return, he earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees from VPI. His engineering career was spent with contractors performing military research and development. His final employment was with McDonnell Douglas of St. Louis, emphasizing fighter aircraft design and development. In retirement, he wrote a book of logic problems based on the chessboard and delved into genealogy, tracing his own ancestry and that of his wife.
He is survived by his wife Mabel (nee Snowden); son Robert A., Columbus, OH; son Gregory (Linda), Ballwin, MO; son Bruce Lyle (Deanna) Murden, South Lyon, MI; brother John C. (Anne), Richmond, VA; six grandchildren, Sharlena, Rob, Nick, Chelsea, Kelli and Kyle; one great-granddaughter, Claire; nieces and nephews.
Bill was in college when I was born. He served in the Army Air Force during WWII. After the war he was again away at college, was married and started his career. I never knew him except as an adult. I was always proud of him for being my older brother. I came to admire and respect him for his achievements in addition to loving him as a brother. He was and will always be one of my heroes.
I am so thankful that my wife and I visited with Bill just several weeks before his passing. He looked great for 84 years of age. I told him in my last letter that I a) hoped to achieve the age of 84 and b) look then as good as he did.
Bill and his wife Mabel were married for over sixty years.
My brother's obituary was only reported in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and even then just reported him as "educated in Virginia". There may be others of his era who may remember him.
Thank you, Carol! Keep up the terrific effort!
John
Oh, John, I'm so sorry to
hear this! You and your family have my deepest condolences. 
I
cannot even imagine the loss of a sibling.
Having lived in the St. Louis area for nearly thirty years and done much of my own genealogical research through the ample facilities there, I wonder if our paths had unknowingly crossed.
From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch - 06/27/08:
William P. Murden, Jr.
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Murden, William P., Jr. on Tues., June 10, 2008, age 84. Survived by wife Mabel (nee Snowden); son Robert A., Columbus, OH; son Gregory (Linda), Ballwin, MO; son Bruce Lyle (Deanna) Murden, South Lyon, MI; brother John C. (Anne), Richmond, VA; six grandchildren, Sharlena, Rob, Nick, Chelsea, Kelli and Kyle; one great-granddaughter, Claire; nieces and nephews. Mr. Murden grew up and was educated in Virginia and served with the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II. With two engineering degrees, he spent his entire professional career with contractors performing military research and development. His final employment was with McDonnell Douglas of St. Louis, emphasizing fighter aircraft design and development. In retirement, he wrote a book of logic problems based on the chessboard and delved into genealogy, tracing his own ancestry and that of his wife. The genealogical research involved much use of the Internet and much information sharing with correspondents found through the Internet, most of them blood relatives-cousins, near and far. Some of those will be among his sincerest mourners. Not everyone who knew him found him lovable, but all respected his intellect. Services: Mr. Murden's remains have been cremated. A Memorial Gathering is planned for Friday, June 13 at 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at KRIEGSHAUSER WEST MORTUARY, 9450 Olive Blvd., Olivette, MO.
Published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on 6/12/2008. |
| Bill was always around as my older brother and unofficial mentor. Our father held Bill up as a model for me. Bill was 18 years older than me, and was away at college when I was born; then in WWI and college again after the war. Over time I came to admire and respect him in addition to knowing and loving him as a big brother. I was proud of him and his accomplishments. He was and will be one of my heroes. |
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John Murden
(Richmond, VA) - June 12, 2008 |
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Joseph Sprouse Jr. (Virginia
Beach, VA
- June 12, 2008)
Contact me |
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Dick Sprouse (Granbury,
TX)
- June 12, 2008 |
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Charles Yelton (Winter
Haven, FL)
- June 12, 2008 Contact me |
| Although I didn't see my Uncle Bill very often, he kept up with events in my life and sent kind letters and gifts. When we moved to California recently, Josh and I especially enjoyed Bill's letter describing Monterey from when he and Mabel lived here decades ago. And I don't think I'll ever forget a story he told at a dinner many years ago. Uncle Bill talked about the time he made a cake and didn't realize the shortening he used to grease the pans had already been used once for cooking. He figured it out in a hurry when he took the first bite of his onion-flavored cake. It was the first time I had spent any time with my aunt and uncle since I was an adult and I really loved the chance to get to know them a bit. |
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Betsy Murden Loeb (Monterey,
CA) -
June 13, 2008
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| I worked for Bill at McDonnell Aircraft in St. LOUIS when he was the Dept Head of Operations Analysis. He always provided superior reviews of our analyses. Bill was always fair, crisp and extremely insightful. He was probably one of the most intelligent people I have ever worked with. I vividly recall his trademark ' smirk'. |
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Stan Bytnar (O' Fallon/St.
Louis, MO)
- June 14, 2008 |
| John
and family: I am so sorry to read about the death of your brother. I was not
blessed to have a brother and, though he was much older, it is wonderful
that he was your mentor and helped you in life. You have my prayers and
sympathy. Take care, Fred Mays of Newport News, VA. |
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Frederick Mays (Newport
News, VA)
- June 19, 2008 Contact me |
Again, our sincerest sympathies are extended to the entire Murden family at this time.
Y'all take good care of each other! TYPHOONS FOREVER! We'll Always Have Buckroe!
Love to all, Carol
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NNHS CLASS OF '65 WEB SITE:
http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com
PERSONAL WEB SITE:
http://www.angelfire.com/weird2/cluckmeat
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Carol Buckley
Harty
219 Four Ply Lane
Fayetteville, NC 29311-9305
910-488-9408
Servant of God, Well Done!
Words by
Charles Wesley (28 Dec 1707 - 29 Mar 1788)
Music by
George J. Elvey (27 Mar 1816 - 9 Dec 1893)
(The Methodist Hymnal, 1966, #288)
Wesley wrote this hymn in 1770 on
the occasion of the death of clergyman George White.
Elvey's tune, "Diademata", has been set to several other hymns, notably "Crown
Him with Many Thorns" and "Soldiers of Christ, Arise".
Servant of God, well done!
Thy glorious warfare’s past;
The battle’s fought, the race is won,
And thou art crowned at last.
With saints enthroned on high,
Thou dost thy Lord proclaim,
And still to God salvation cry,
Salvation to the Lamb!
O happy, happy soul!
In ecstasies of praise,
Long as eternal ages roll,
Thou seest Thy Savior’s face.
Redeemed from earth and pain,
Ah! when shall we ascend,
And all in Jesus’ presence reign
With our translated friend?
"Servant of God, Well Done!" midi courtesy of http://www.norbry.net/midi/archive/hymn/ - 01/13/06
"Servant of God, Well Done!" lyrics courtesy of http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/e/servogod.htm - 01/13/06
Greg Olsen Paintings courtesy of http://gregolsengallery.com – 01/27/05
Animated Army Flag clip art courtesy of http://www.angelfire.com/ny4/KevsGifsGalore/Patriotic.html - 06/18/03
Blackwork Flowers Divider Line clip art courtesy of http://www.bravenet.com - 08/12/04