Austin J. Murphy, Jr.

Austin J. Murphy, Jr., 96, of Carroll Township and formerly of Monongahela and Farmington, passed away on Saturday, April 13, 2024. He was a lifelong Democrat and longtime public servant in the Mon Valley. He was born in North Charleroi on June 17, 1927 to Austin J. Murphy, Sr and Evelyn (Spence) Murphy. 

He was married for 63 years to Eileen R. (Mona) McNamara Murphy. Mr. Murphy is survived by his children Colleen (Steven) Arnowitz of Eighty Four, R. Brian (Cynthia) Murphy of Charleroi, Erin Sinko of Monongahela, Maureen (Robert) Dineen of Cobb Island, Maryland, Holly (William) Hayden of Markleysburg, and Patrick Murphy of Vienna, Virginia; sixteen grandchildren, Domenick and Jazmine Luchansky, Elizabeth Luchansky, Kelly and Frank Amati, Michael Ankrom and Tabitha Hollenader, Caitlin and Jeremy Yeager, Erin Dinneen, Nathan Hayden, Mary Katherine Dinneen, Nicholas Murphy, Meghan and Matthew Solomon, Bridget and Greg Leyda, Leah and Mike Anderson, Robert and Christy Dinneen, Brian and Shelby Hayden, Samantha and Dave Alvord, Maxine Murphy; seventeen great grandchildren, Evan Anderson, Tyler Anderson, Enzo Amati, Jackson Ankrom, Nora Amati, Luke Leyda, Brooke Yeager, Grace Hayden, Leland Alvord, Ella Alvord, Ella Solomon, Ryan Leyda, Alex Solomon, Sheila J. Luchansky, Macie Yeager, Klaus Hayden; his sister, Shirley Cooper of Plymouth Meeting; sisters-in-law, Mary Murphy of Williamsport, and Patricia Murphy of Hidden Valley;  numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.

AJ, as he was known to everyone, served on Speers Borough Council and as an Assistant District Attorney for Washington County. His legislative service began in 1959. He served six terms in the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives before moving on to the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1971. Austin remained there until he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976. During his years of service, he helped many constituents with employment, health, and social issues. He served on many committees in the Pennsylvania House and Senate including Appropriations and the Local Government Committee. He also served as Chairman of the Local Government Commission. In the US House, Mr. Murphy worked tirelessly on many issues including social security, education, and labor. He also served as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Labor Standards. He was a longtime member of the Coal Caucus.

From 1953 until 1976, Mr. Murphy was a practicing attorney and maintained an office in Charleroi. He represented many clients and was known for his efforts at matching children with their forever families through adoption. No matter how the case was resolved, Austin believed that his duty was to provide fair representation for his clients. He truly loved the law.

In addition to his professional service as an attorney and legislator, Austin was a former Boy Scout leader for troops in Speers and Allenport, and volunteered at Jumonville. He was especially proud of having served as a corporal in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. The experiences he had during that time formed the foundation for the rest of his life’s work. His children learned to sing the Marine Corps Hymn before they were in school and everyone knew it was time to move when Dad said, “okay, let’s lock and load!”

Mr. Murphy graduated from Charleroi High School in 1945. He went on to complete his undergraduate education at Duquesne University and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1952. After serving in office, AJ retired to Farmington, Pennsylvania where he and Mona maintained an active social life, and engaged in many community centered efforts. He maintained memberships in the Mon Valley Leathernecks, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and The American Legion. He was a life member with 78 years of continuous service. He also served as Past Commander of American Legion Post 51 in Uniontown. AJ participated in many military meetings, services, parades and attended several Marine Corps Balls. With grateful hearts, we thank him for his many years of service to his family, friends, and district.

The family thanks everyone who participated in making Dad’s life better. Thanks to all the medical staff and to Dr. Parent for their care. In addition to Mona and his parents, AJ was predeceased by his daughter, Sheila Luchansky; his grandsons, Joseph Luchansky, Sean Richard Arnowitz, and Sean Emerick Kalie; sons-in-law, Frank Sinko and Michael Luchansky; and siblings, Mary Margaret Summerville, Robert E. Murphy, and Dennis J. Murphy. 

Friends will be received Thursday, April 18, 2024 from 2-4 and 6-8 PM in the Frye Funeral Home, Inc., 427 W Main Street, Monongahela. Additional visitations will be held Friday, April 19, 2024 from 10:00-10:45 AM at the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, 61 Walnut Ridge Road, Charleroi, PA 15022 where funeral services will commence at 11:00 AM with the Rev. Dennis Stitch and Rev. Robert Holmes co-officiating. Interment will follow in Howe Cemetery, Coal Center with military honors accorded by the Mon Valley Firing Squad and Honor Guard. 

Memorial contributions may be made to Penn Highlands Mon Valley Hospital, 1163 Country Club Road, Monongahela, PA 15063, Mon Valley Leathernecks, 204 Brokaw Avenue, Donora, PA 15033, or the charity of one’s choice.