Lyle Romaine Murphy, 91, of Conroe, Texas, passed away, Wednesday, November 16, 2016. He was born December 7, 1924 in Ward Township, Minnesota, to Halet and Grace (Wilmot) Murphy. He graduated from Clarissa High School in 1943 and from the University of Minnesota in 1949, where he received a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree. On November 27, 1968, he married Fuku Kon, of Akita, Japan. Lyle worked as an Electrical Engineer for Boeing and then the University of Colorado Nuclear Physics Laboratory, where he retired in 1990. Lyle was a WWII veteran who served as an Electronics Technician mate, 1st Class, on the U.S.S. Shoshone. He also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in India from 1966 to 1968. Lyle is survived by his wife, Fuku, his son, Halet, his daughter, Rana and his three grandchildren, Charlotte, Emma and Evan. He lived in many different places before settling in Boulder, Colorado, where he lived for over 40 years. Lyle recently relocated to Texas in 2016. Lyle had a passion for genealogy, world travel and politics. Lyle was proud of his service in the U.S. Navy and will be buried at sea.

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Published by The Daily Camera from Nov. 25 to Nov. 26, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Lyle Murphy

Sponsored by Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home & Cemetery.

18 Entries

Ross Campbell

June 11, 2017

My sympathy to the family and friends of Lyle Romaine Murphy. My father, who died in 1999, was an officer of the U.S.S. Shoshone "Boat Group", serving aboard the same ship as Lyle Romaine Murphy. I am a co-administrator of a Shoshone Facebook page (
https://www.facebook.com/USS-Shoshone-AKA-65-138050362888776/) whose mission is "To preserve the memory of these brave men, gather all historic and first hand knowledge of the USS Shoshone (AKA-65) and to contact any living survivors who served on-board." Following is some information about Lyle Romaine Murphy's service aboard Shoshone. The Muster Roles indicate that Lyle R Murphy was a member of the initial crew, "Ship's Company", that boarded Shoshone on 24 September 1944. Early Muster Roles show that he was RT2c and promoted some time before 1 October 1945 to RT1c (Radio Technician, First Class).

His name, and the names of other crew and officers of the Shoshone, is shown in the image linked below. This roster of men was probably compiled for Shoshone's "homeward bound" voyage at the end of the war.
https://www.facebook.com/138050362888776/photos/a.138344846192661.25309.138050362888776/1761903847170078/?type=3&theater

If you have any information that you would like to share, about Lyle Romaine Murphy, with others who are connected through U.S.S. Shoshone, please do visit our Shoshone Facebook page and send me a message via the page's "Message" button.

Sincerely,
Ross Campbell (son of Robert B Campbell)

Samantha Morgan

December 8, 2016

Dearest Fuku,
I just heard about Lyle's passing. He was a wonderful man and I remember fondly his stories of growing up on the farm in Minnesota, his days in the Peace Corps in India and of course meeting you in Japan. I loved him very much and I will always remember the love and kindness you both bestowed upon me, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

All my love,
Samantha

Terri Richards Ditlow

December 5, 2016

I am so sorry for your loss. All of us send you love and peace.

December 2, 2016

Dear Aunt Fuku, Halet and Rana,
We were so sorry to hear of Uncle Lyle's passing. He will be sorely missed. I remember him fondly --coming to visit my family on several occasions as we were growing up. We always looked forward to his visits. His stories were so fun and we loved hearing about all the Murphy kids growing up in Minnesota. My Dad always enjoyed his little brother, Lyle.

Fuku, I remember when you visited as well, pregnant with Halet, and it was such a pleasure to meet you.

I remember being a teenager when Uncle Lyle joined the Peace Corps and I thought it was so wonderful that he did this. He had so much to offer.

When Daddy, Jim and I came to Minnesota for Uncle Donald's wedding he drove us all around and shared the wonderful experience of us getting together with many of the Murphy clan.

On Holidays he would call and speak to my children even though they had never met in person. I wish so much they had the chance to really know him. I am so happy that he had the chance to enjoy his grandchildren.

Uncle Lyle was one of a kind and my thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Margaret Murphy

November 29, 2016

Dear Aunt Fuku, Halet & Rana,

I was so sorry to hear about Uncle Lyle. He was so special to us & talking with him about his childhood & memories of Daddy made us laugh.
Please know he will always be in our hearts.

Joe Reichlin

November 29, 2016

Fuku, I am so sorry about your and our loss with the passing of Murph. I spent as time with him as anybody in the Peace Corps since we were working buddies at a capacitor manufacturing company in Poona. He designed the test equipment and I worked on processes and quality control. We were a good team. Most mornings we would meet and ride our bicycles along a canal and the lettuce fields a the dusty industrial park to work. We traveled to Nepal to hike. He was a pleasure to be with. I remember his fidgeting and playing with coins in his pocket. It has been 50 years. There is so much I have forgotten but I do appreciate the wisdom of the Peace Corp to team me, an ignorant young kid, with a wiser, smarter mentor that prevented my PC experience from being a mistake for both me and our hosts. God bless you and your family.

Lannette Huberty

November 26, 2016

Aunt Fuku, Rana an Halet please accept my condolences for the loss of my dear Uncle and your dear Lyle. I cherish my childhood memories because I could always depend on him to read my favorite books to me. He never failed me. I remember his visits when he came into town in his Navy uniform with his big duffel bag and there he is in his uniform in this Guest Book! I remember his delight in conversations, his laughter his sense of humor and his love which he so easily gave to family and friends. He was very special to me and made me proud of my uncle all through the years.

Sig Tullmann

November 25, 2016

I am so sorry for your loss. Lyle was special and will be missed. I am so glad I got to see him again and meet you at our Peace Corps reunion in DC. When the India 31 team was first organized he brought to the group a range of skills and experience none of us could match. He truly lived a full life. God rest his soul.

November 25, 2016

We are sorry to learn of the passing of Lyle, but grateful for his service to our nation, including his service with the Peace Corps in India.

Our Condolences,
The National Peace Corps Association

Bill Rapp

November 24, 2016

I, too, served in the Peace Corps, in India in Pune, which was Poona, when we were there. We were part of a group there to assist small businesses. Lyle's experience in industry, as opposed to the rest of us being just out of college, enabled him to render greater direct manufacturing value to the companies he worked with, then I was able to with my MBA. Although we were never really close, now that he's gone, I will miss him. My sincerest condolences to Fuku, their sons & extended family. Bill Rapp

George Woytowich

November 24, 2016

Please note that Lyle also served in the Peace Corp in India from 1966-68.The members of India 31 - Small Industries time spent with him was always a good time.

Myrn & Dwight Hillmer

November 23, 2016

Fuku, Halet and Rana,
You surely have our sympathy for your loss. Uncle Lyle was a very interesting man. We enjoyed visiting with him. He always had an opinion and knew how to explain why he felt that way. He was a great person.

November 23, 2016

Fuku, Halet and Rana, we are so sorry for your loss. I am so glad we had the chance for the "book club" group to get together before Fuku and Lyle left Boulder.
He never ceased to amaze me with the memories he could recall, whether it be stories of Minnesota or travel, or what he could accomplish in his later years that we knew him.
Our prayers for you in this difficult time.
Karen and John Neff

Lyle's 90th Birthday Party

Marlene and Richard Miyamoto

November 22, 2016

I remember my concern for Lyle as he prepared to leave on a trip to Ireland and Scotland--going off on his own with a rather large, wheeled suitcase (not the modern, easy-to-maneuver kind, but the cumbersome, old fashioned kind with a pull strap), and a copy of Rick Steve's Europe Through the Back Door for Great Britain that I had loaned him. How old was he then? I think he was already in his mid seventies. Not to worry, he had a great time, traveling and exploring his roots as an independent, septuagenarian backpacker'.

That was Lylefiercely independent, adventurous, and interested in the world and everything in it. There were many times that I would see him at the World Affairs Conference at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he would go to listen to discussions about Palestinehe was in their corner.

Richard and I will miss you, Lylefriend and neighbor for over 30 years. It's time for a new adventure now.

Janet Evans

November 22, 2016

Lyle was one of a kind, so well travelled, thoughtful and intelligent in his conversation. I remember Lyle's happy expression when he heard the bagpipe music at his 80th birthday party. He loved to tell stories. At one dinner, he brought out a book from his childhood and several of us sang songs in it. Lyle will be dearly missed.

November 22, 2016

Halet and Rana
Just wanted to let you know how much our family admired your Father. We have been together as neighbors and friends for a long time. He was a good friend and over the years we shared many good times together and lots of good conversations. He beamed with pride when he talked about his children and grandchildren. I know you will all miss him. We are thinking of you at this time. Carrol & Bill