Born in Tower City, August 19, 1926, he was the oldest son of the late Joseph A. and Esther Hanke Murray.
He was a 1944 graduate of Tower City High School.
He was an Army veteran of World War II and the Korean War, and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 in the Army Reserves. He retired from the federal government (Department of the Army) after 42 years of combined military and civilian service.
Joe was of the Catholic faith. Raised in St. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church, Tower City, he served as the organist for over four decades. Recently, he became a member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Williamstown.
He was a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Lykens, and a member of the Loyal Order of Moose, Lodge 1603, Tower City, Orwin Gun Club, Williamstown American Legion, Tower City Fire Company, and the Ancient Order of Hibernia.
Joe was an avid fan of Tiger Woods and the St. Louis Cardinals.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Flynn; two children, Monica and Michael; and his brothers, Richard and Robert.
Surviving are his sister, Marie Levan of Harrisburg; his eleven children, Joseph G. of Danville, James, Margaret Mary “Peg” Frankenstein, Timothy and John, all of Tower City, Maryanne, Brigantine NJ, Teresa, Ponce Inlet, Florida, Patrick, Williamstown, Matthew, Pleasantville, NJ, Christopher, Chula Vista, California, and Francis, Gratz; 18 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 19th from the St. Peter and Paul’s Chapel, Tower City, with the Rev. C. Anthony Miller as celebrant. Internment with military honors will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Williamstown. A viewing will be held Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Chapel of the Dimon Funeral Homes, Inc., Tower City. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joe’s name to Porter-Tower EMS, Tower City Library, or Williams Valley Food Pantry, all of Tower City.
