Charles Thomas "CT. " Murphy 1898 - 1981

MURPHY, DREW, MCGOVERN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 2/28/2023 at 23:30:20

Mapleton Press
2 April 1981

Charles Thomas "CT. " Murphy, 82, was born at Jackson Junction, Iowa, on November 6, 1898 to Thomas and Mary Drew Murphy. He was the grandson of James and Maria Doyle Murphy. Irish immigrants who were pioneer Iowa farmers. He graduated in 1925 from Loras College, formerly Columbia College in Dubuque. On August 16, 1932, he was united in matrimony at Waterloo, Iowa with Madeline McGovern of Chicago.

Superintendent of schools for eight years at Maloy, Iowa and for eight years at Danbury, Mr. Murphy was also boys' basketball coach at both schools and guided them to state tournament berths.

Prior to that, he was superintendent at Oran and Fort Atkinson and also taught in Lawler and at Sacred Heart High School in Waterloo. In 1944 he purchased the Coast-to-Coast Store and moved to Onawa where he operated that business for 25 years. He then returned to college to become recertified to teach and taught for several more years in parochial schools before retiring in 1971.

For many years he was active with the local Little League program, teaching numerous Onawa boys baseball skills.

A member of St. John's Catholic Church, Mr. Murphy was active in that parish, teaching high school religion. He was a founder of the Knights of
Columbus Councils at St. Mary's Church in Danbury and later at St. John's in Onawa. The Onawa Kiwanis Club voted him Layman of the Year in 1974.

He was a resident at Pleasant View Nursing Home in Whiting for eighteen months. After a long illness, he died March 18, 1981, at the Burgess Memorial Hospital in Onawa.

His family includes his wife, Madeline; three daughters, Sister Mary Murphy, B.V.M., Chicago, Illinois; Alice A. Murphy of Onawa and Ellen Murphy Schwartz of Orlando, Florida; three sons, Emmett D. Murphy of Riverside, California, Robert P. Murphy, M.D., of Baltimore, Maryland and Thomas M. Murphy, M.D. of Washington, D.C.; one sister, Lewine Murphy of Waterloo, and five grandchildren.

His parents and four brothers preceded him in death.

Mr. Murphy had a deep and lasting interest in education. He was committed to the goal of improving people's lot in life through education and so dedicated a great deal of his time and energy to working with young people. With his persisten encouragement, many of his students of the depression years went to obtain college degrees. Several of these men and women achieved considerable prominence and success; they include a now-retired vice president of General Motors, several members of state boards and commissions in Iowa, a former mayor of Sioux City and numerous, professionals including, but not limited to educators, physicians, dentists and attorneys.

One of his most treasured goals was to see that each of his children obtained a college education. He and his wife made personal sacrifices in order to make this possible and were able to see the results of their efforts. All six children earned bachelor's degrees. In addition to this, three have master's degrees, two have Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degrees and one has a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in microbiology.

Mr. Murphy was a family man who set an admirable example of respect for others, honesty, generosity and loyalty to his God and his family.

The Funeral Mass was held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 20, 1981, at St. John's Catholic Church, Onawa, Iowa, with Reverend Father Donald Smith presiding. Sharane Oehler, the organist, accompanied David Hausman, the soloist.

Bearers were Dayle Ellis, Thomas Keitges, Raymond Low, Irwin Niewohner, Robert Stangel and Keith Zortman.

Interment was in the Onawa Cemetery.