Allen Murphy Jr.

Allen M. Murphy Jr. NEWBERRY, S.C. - Allen Milton Murphy Jr. died Oct. 21, 2008, at his home. He was born Sept. 4, 1926, in West Virginia and lived most of his life in Virginia. He was the son of Col. Allen Milton Murphy and Marguerite Willis Murphy formerly of Virginia. Mr. Murphy attended Fishburne Military Academy and served in the United States Navy during World War II. He graduated from New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, N.M., the University of Richmond and did graduate work at the University of Virginia and received a degree in chemistry. For years, he was an executive at Smith Douglass Fertilizer in Norfolk and started his own business, Bristol Ltd., in 1974. He became one of the first agricultural chemical brokers in the United States and had a tremendous influence on the entire United States and global pesticide industry. Surviving are his wife, Peggy Collins Murphy; daughters, Alison Murphy Fears of Falls Church, Va., and Ann Whitaker and Marty Lyon of Raleigh, N.C.; sons, Allen Milton Murphy III of Cary, N.C., Donald R. and Donna Whitaker of Virginia Beach and Dr. Timothy Malone and Mary Whitaker of Philadelphia; one grandson, Tommy Whitaker Lyon of Raleigh, N.C.; and two sisters, Patty and Marsha. A private family service will be held at his home to honor his life. Allen will be missed by all. McSwain-Evans Funeral Home of Newberry, S.C., is entrusted with the arrangements. www.mcswainevans.com.