The family of Major General William Edgar Murphy will celebrate his life of 86 years at 1:00 PM on Thursday, May 27, 2021, at Southcrest Baptist Church. Graveside services with full military honors will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park. His family will host a time of fellowship and remembrance from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers. He passed on Sunday, May 23, 2021. We invite you to attend the celebration or to view the live-streamed service here on this page, sign his virtual guestbook, and download his memorial keepsake folder to your device for printing.In 1995 General Murphy retired as the Commanding General of the 49th Armored Division, Army National Guard of the State of Texas. General Murphy was responsible for the 15,000 soldiers, 327 M-1 tanks, 1000 other armored vehicles, 100 Apache and Blackhawk helicopters, and 3000 wheeled vehicles of the 49th Armored Division. He was responsible for the division’s combat readiness to perform their missions for the United States Army and the State of Texas.General Murphy was born March 25, 1935, in Lubbock, Texas. He began his military career of 42 years in 1953, and he commanded at every level in the division. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Tech University in 1971 and completed many U. S. Army schools and courses to include the U. S. Army Command and Staff College. General Murphy has 16 medals including the Legion of Merit, as well as many badges and awards.General Murphy was instrumental in obtaining federal funding and the construction of the Armed Forces Guard and Reserve Center in Lubbock. This center is the home of all Army National Guard, Army Reserve, and Marine Reserve units in the Lubbock area. Upon completion in 1995, the Texas Legislature dedicated the facility to General Murphy and placed his name on it. General Murphy retired in 1995 and was promoted to Brevet Lieutenant General by the State of Texas and Governor George W. Bush.General Murphy and his wife, Ann, live in Lubbock where they are both active at Southcrest Baptist Church. He was a Baptist deacon and a trustee at Wayland Baptist University. He also served as chairman of the Board for Wayland Baptist University in 2008 and 2009. They have two sons, Steve (Sonya) Murphy and Bill (Dawn) Murphy; daughter, Stacey (Cary) Collins; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; sister, Myrtice Adamson; and a brother, Mike Murphy who were partners for many years in a Lubbock tractor business, Western Implement Company.
