COLUMBUS
Jon Fredric “Fred” Murray, husband, father, veteran, pilot, telecommunications expert, and connoisseur of antique tractors, passed away on December 7, 2021, at Columbus Regional Medical Center with his family by his side.
Fred was born Aug. 2, 1937, in Connersville, Ind., to Margaret Y. and William V. Murray. He graduated in 1955 from Connersville High School, where he was a proud member of the school’s marching band, founded in 1906 as the nation’s first high school marching band. Fascinated with aviation from an early age, he earned his pilot’s license at the age of 16, and for years after sought every opportunity to land at the grass airfield near Connersville where he learned to fly.
He graduated from Purdue University, where he studied industrial and aviation technology. An ROTC student at Purdue, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force. He served 21 years in uniform as an aircraft maintenance officer and later in telecommunications. His duty stations included Rhein Main Air Base, Germany; F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.; Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.; and Grissom Air Force Base, Ind. He retired at the rank of major after 21 years of service, with awards and decorations including the Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters; the Presidential Unit Citation with oak leaf cluster; the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award; the National Defense Service Medal; the Air Force Longevity Service Award; and the Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.
He married the former Margaret Faber on Jan. 30, 1965, at Alquina United Methodist Church in Alquina, Ind., the beginning of 54 years together. Their son, Kevin, was born in 1965, and daughter, Heidi, came in 1970.
After retirement from the Air Force, the young family moved to Columbus, where Fred had taken a job with Cummins Engine Co. At Cummins, he was responsible for establishing telecommunications networks connecting the corporate headquarters with facilities around the world. After several years with Cummins, he moved to Simon Property Group, where he spearheaded telecommunications for the company’s many property developments, including Mall of America in Minnesota, a project that involved more than 20,000 miles of communications cable. He left Simon to establish his own telecommunications consulting firm, where his clients included companies such as Ritz Carlton hotels.
Throughout his life he pursued his love of flying, and served as a flight instructor. He was an avid amateur photographer, and among the many treasures he left for his family are thousands of photographs and slides documenting their lives and travels together. The handiest of handymen, he loved to tinker with machinery, and one of his greatest joys in retirement was gathering with family and friends at antique tractor shows.
He is survived by his beloved wife Margaret; son Kevin (Betty) of Connersville, Ind., and daughter Heidi (William) of Greenwood, Ind.; grandchildren Andrew and Joshua of Connersville; Cassidy (Grant) of Verona, Wis.; and Jackson (Sabrina), of Greenwood; brothers Stanley, of Carmel, and Byron, of Washington, D.C., and countless family and friends.
A memorial service in honor of Fred’s life will be held Saturday, December 11 at 5:30 p.m. at Myers-Reed Chapel with Rev. Virgil Clotfelter officiating. Military Honors will be provided by the Bartholomew County Honor Guard. Friends may call for visitation from 4 p.m. to the time of the service on Saturday.
To share a fond memory or leave a condolence for the family, visit www.Myers-Reed.com.
Myers-Reed Chapel is serving the Murray family.
