NORTH VERNON
Dwight Calden Murphy, 78, of North Vernon, passed away at 12:23 p.m. on Thursday, December 7, 2017, at his residence.
Born June 1, 1939, in Lawrenceville, Illinois, Mr. Murphy was the son of the late Carrel and Gladys Mitchell Murphy. He married Shirley Townsend on December 20, 1968, at Graham Baptist Church in Butlerville. She survives.
Mr. Murphy was a 1957 graduate of Vernon High School and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1961 to 1965.
He worked as an attendant for 30 years for the former Muscatatuck State Developmental Center in Butlerville before retiring in 2001.
Mr. Murphy was a member of Graham Baptist Church in Butlerville and the Vernon Alumni Association.
He enjoyed reading, traveling and fishing, but mostly he enjoyed family time.
Surviving with his wife of 48 years, Shirley, are his son, Timothy (Bethany) Murphy of North Vernon; a daughter, Paula (Willard) Gerth of North Vernon; grandchildren, Shana (Andy Huffman) Brewer, Victoria (Brad Dobbs) Brewer, Gabriel (Shelby) Gerth, Becca (Ryan) Miller, Kaylee Murphy, Kameron Murphy, Kaleb Murphy and Codie (Tyler Thompson) Speer, all of North Vernon, Erin Manno of Canton, Michigan, Michael (Dustie) Gerth of Elizabethtown, Sara Mefford of Butlerville; and 11 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Michael Murphy; daughter, Nahoma Smith Brewer; brothers, John and James Murphy; and a sister, Carolyn Bott.
A funeral service for Mr. Murphy will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, December 11, 2017 at the Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home and Cremation Services in North Vernon, with the Rev. Tom Mattingly officiating.
Family and Friends may call at the Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home and Cremation Services on Sunday, December 10, 2017 from 4 until 8 p.m. and one hour prior to the service on Sunday. Burial will be in the Graham Baptist Church Cemetery in Butlerville with military graveside rites.
Memorials may be made through the funeral home to Our Hospice of Jennings County or Graham Baptist Church.
