Louise W. Murrin

MURRIN Louise W. Murrin, born 1923 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the only child of Russell and Marylouise Warner. Her father worked as Superintendent of the Aliquippa and Southern Railroad at the Jones and Laughlin Steel Company in Aliquippa, and her mother was a professional concert pianist and violinist. After moving to Aliquippa, Louise attended and graduated from public elementary school in Aliquippa, private middle school in Sewickley, and high school in Coraopolis. In 1940, she attended Westminster College in New Wilmington as an art major and then transferred to Pittsburgh Ad Art Studio. Upon finishing, she worked as a graphic artist at the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph and later the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. She married Ralph Murrin in 1947 following his graduation from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. They moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he started pilot training and she continued her graphic art career for the Post-Gazette by mail. Three years later, they moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where daughter Jill was born in 1950. In Ann Arbor, Louise continued her graphic artwork and was President of the Officers' Wives Club at the University of Michigan. In 1952 Ralph was stationed at the Wright Patterson Air Force Base and they moved to Fairborn, Ohio, where son Jim was born in 1953. While in Fairborn, Louise was active as a Deacon and a Choir member at the First Presbyterian Church, served as President of the Child Conservation League and was a dedicated Brownie troupe leader. She became a fine artist specializing in landscapes and still lifes using both pastels and watercolor. While in Fairborn, Louise also attended Wright State University in Dayton, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1972 with a B.S. in Art Education. Following Ralph's retirement, they worked together as realtors for Gem City Realty in Fairborn until moving to Osprey, Florida, in 1984, staying for eight years. In 1987, their first grandchild, Kevin Fugaro, was born in San Francisco, California. A year later, their second grandchild, Alexandra Murrin, was born in Columbus, Ohio. Over the next several years, they moved between Ohio and Florida several times; back to Dublin, Ohio in 1992 to be nearer to family, then to Sarasota, Florida on 1996, and back to Columbus in 2008, to a retirement community where Ralph continues to live. While in Sarasota, Louise became a member of Church of the Palms and frequently served as an usher there. Wherever she was, Louise was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and aunt, and her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy. She was an avid gardener and lover of flowers and trees. She was also a dedicated letter-writer, penning almost-daily updates to her family and wide circle of friends. She will be missed by many for her love, intelligence, encouragement, warm smile, sparkle, her sense of style and elegance, her sense of humor, as well as her generous hospitality and artistic talent. She is survived by her husband, Ralph; her daughter, Jill Fugaro from Mill Valley, California; her son, James Murrin, DDS, MS, of Dublin, Ohio; and her two grandchildren, Kevin Fugaro, Evanston, Illinois, and Alexandra Murrin, of Washington, D.C.; Louise is also survived by two nephews, Rob Thurau, of Sarasota, Florida, and Craig Thurau, of Franklin, Pennsylvania; and two nieces, Dee Elder, of Troy, Michigan, and Alice Thurau, Hileman, of Clarion, Pennsylvania. A memorial service will be held on September 16, 2010, 12;30 p.m. at Overbrook Presbyterian Church, 4131 North High Street, 43214, (614) 261-1040. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either Senior Independence Hospice, 1001 Kingsmill Parkway, Columbus, Ohio 43229 or the Columbus College of Art and Design, Development Office, 60 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43215. Funeral arrangements entrusted to SCHOEDINGER WORTHINGTON CHAPEL. To sign an on-line guest book or to share a story about Louise visit: www.schoedinger.com