Ralph A. Murphy, 94, passed away March 17, 2018. Ralph was a native Atlantan. He was President of Murphy Jr. High School and Vice-President of Boys High School. He was a Violin Concert Master with “In and About” for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra during his high school years. After graduating, Ralph furthered his education at Emory University in Atlanta, where he obtained both an Associate’s and a Master’s degree in Business Education. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy. During WWII, he served as a First-Class Pharmacist Mate in San Diego, Claifornia, at the U.S. Naval Hospital. Ralph was Administrator of the X-Ray Department and was sent as Engineer to the Pacific on Okinawa (from San Diego) to install x-ray machines in preparation for the Japanese Invasion. He was called back by the Navy X-Ray Department, in Memphis, for the Korean War. After dutifully serving his country, Ralph started his civilian career as a teacher for the Atlanta Public School Department, where he met “Miss Cade”, in 1953, at Fulton High School during a faculty meeting. He also taught at Murphy High School and Hoke Smith High School. Ralph was married in June 1954 to “Miss Cade” in Jackson, MS. He was a member of the Oxford Board of Councilors, President and State Lt. Governor of Georgia for the Atlanta Optimist Club, and also served as President of the Covington Kiwanis Club and Kiwanis State Lt. Governor. Ralph was Vice-President of Preferred Risk Mutual Insurance Company and was employed with them for 34 years. He loved his church and served as a Sunday School teacher for teenage boys, a couple’s class, and was also Chairman of Board of Deacons Finance Committee at Briarcliff Baptist Church, in Atlanta. The Murphys moved to Covington 31 years ago, and joined First Baptist Church, where Ralph taught a couple’s class known as “Murphy’s Gang” – aptly named after Mr. Murphy. He served as a deacon and was also Chairman of the Board of Deacons, as well as different committees. Additionally, Ralph was a member and Master Mason of the Oglethorpe Masonic Lodge, receiving a 50-year pin.
He was the son of Carl A. Murphy and Miranda Griffin Murphy.
He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Geraldine (Gerri) Cade Murphy; two daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Donald (Randi) Schmitt of Milton, and Charlotte Murphy of Alpharetta; grandchildren, Christopher Schmitt of Beaumont, Texas, Mr. and Mrs. Adam (Stacey) Little of Inverness, Florida; nephews, Judge Stanley Birch and Saye Sutton of Atlanta, Sutton Birch of New York, Harvey Murphy of Springfield, Virginia; and niece, Jan Murphy, of Atlanta.
A Funeral Service for Mr. Murphy will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 20, at First Baptist Church, 1139 Usher St., NE in Covington, with Dr. Cody McNutt and the Rev. David Poe officiating. Interment will follow in Lawnwood Memorial Park, Covington. Friends may visit with the family at Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home, 1215 Access Road, in Covington, Monday, March 19, from 5 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made be made to Murphy’s Scholarship Fund at First Baptist Church, Covington.
