John J. Murphy

John J. Murphy, 93, of Nashua, a longtime Air Traffic Controller, died Wednesday evening, April 4, 2012 at St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua, after a brief illness.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts on July 3, 1918, he was a son of the late Richard and Delia (Galvin) Murphy. John was a graduate of Boston English High School and furthered his education at Bentley College. In July 1941, Mr. Murphy enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served as a Staff Sergeant with the 395th Fighter Squadron in the European Theater of Operations during World War II.

After the war, John began his career with the Federal Aviation Agency at the Boston Control Center and then relocated to Nashua after the FAA Center opened in 1963 and continued here until his retirement in 1974. John also was co-owner of the former J & J Car Wash on Charron Avenue in Nashua for a number of years.

Mr. Murphy had been affiliated with the New England Aeronautical Institute now Daniel Webster College in Nashua for several years.

John married Margaret M. “Peg” Gately on April 27, 1946 and shared 62 years together before her death on October 8, 2008. He and his wife enjoyed traveling to Europe, Israel, The Caribbean, Hawaii and throughout the USA. Mr. Murphy was a communicant of the Parish of The Resurrection.

Members of his family include three sons and two daughters-in-law, Kevin P. and Sarah Murphy of Tucson, AZ, Paul and Anne Murphy of Litchfield and Robert L. Murphy of Madisonville, KY; three granddaughters, Letitia Mello and her husband John of California, and Sara and Hannah Murphy of Kentucky; a great-granddaughter, Allison Margaret Mello; and a sister-in-law, Sally Redding and her daughter Sue of Boston. In addition to his parents, John was predeceased by his brother, Richard Murphy of Boston.

SERVICES: Calling hours will be held on Monday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the FARWELL FUNERAL HOME, 18 Lock Street, Nashua. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Parish of The Resurrection, 449 Broad Street, Nashua, Tuesday morning at 11 o’clock. Friends are invited to attend and will gather at the church. Private interment will take place following the Mass at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen. Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE. (603) 882-0591. (www.farwellfuneral.com).