Joseph Finley Murray

Dr. Joseph Finley Murray was born on July 16, 1915 in Pleasantville, New Jersey to Robert Murray and Florence Jenny Pikes. He died peacefully at the age of 101 on January 2, 2017 in Vancouver, Washington.

As a young boy, Finley had a carefree and diverse childhood. When he was about 12 years old, his childhood took a tragic and dangerous turn. He and his brothers were riding a motorcycle with a sidecar, and they had an accident. Finley's ten-year old brother Norman was killed. Due to Finley's severe injuries, the doctor thought he would also die-so much so that the doctor didn't set his broken arm. Finley suffered with a broken arm deformity for the rest of his life. In spite of this, young Finley learned how to play the violin.

As a teen, he mastered golf and caddied at a private golf course. While he was there, he was befriended by a senator. Finley told him, "I don't want to spend the rest my life being a caddy. I'm smart enough to go to college, and I'd like to become a doctor." The senator heard Finley's request, acted on it and helped him get a golf scholarship to Lincoln College. Finley claimed to have an IQ of 160, and proved this at Lincoln College by getting the highest score in anatomy and physiology. His high grade led to him being a teacher's assistant in biology. He was initiated into the Beta Chapter of Omega Psi Fraternity at Lincoln College on April 4, 1941.

After graduating Lincoln College in 1941, he attended Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in Nashville, Tennessee. While at Meharry, Finley visited Fisk University where he met Helen Edith Vanderhoop. He recalled that she didn't care too much for him at first, but that changed, and she suggested they elope. His response: "No, your father will kill us." They later married in 1946 at the local courthouse. Finley graduated from Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree.

In 1953, he was commissioned in the United States Army and deployed to Korea. He served in the army as a captain for two years, two months and 15 days and spent one year, three months and 13 days in the Korean theater. He received the National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal and Meritorious Unit Citation. While in the army, Finley performed better dental work than higher-ranking majors. After helping a colonel with a particularly difficult dental problem, Finley was promoted to ship dentist on the return from Korea.

Finley was 38 years of age after returning from the Korean War. His marriage to Helen dissolved. In 1961, he married his second wife, Cleo Barnes becoming the stepfather of David and Margot Rice. Finley and Cleo were married for 40 years until her death in June 2001.

Finley practiced dentistry in the Capitol Hill area of Washington DC. His 50 years of dentistry included pro bono work and teaching at Howard University College of Dentistry. He proudly stated, he was never sued.

After Cleo passed away, Finley and Helen rekindled their romance and in 2002 were remarried. Helen was a member of the Wampanoag Tribe on Martha's Vineyard, where she and Finley lived for eight years until she passed away in January 2008.

Finley celebrated his 100th birthday on July 16, 2015 in Portland, Oregon with a crowd of family and friends. Carl Blunt, a fraternity brother, visited Finley that year to profile him for the fraternity publication. Carl observed that Finley was "sharp, vibrant, and hilarious." His family and friends would certainly agree. Finley received Omega Psi Phi's Centennial Medallion, and President Barack H. Obama sent him a special birthday greeting.

Finley was preceded in death by: his parents Robert Sr. and Florence, his wives Helen and Cleo, and his siblings Robert, Junior, Leon, Norman, Helen (Thomas), Bernice (Dickerson), and Dorothy (Bethel and McRae).

Finley is survived by four generations of nieces and nephews including JoAnne Dickerson of Atlantic City, New Jersey; Anice Dickerson of Las Vegas, Nevada; Joseph (Bubby) Dickerson of Cherry Hill, New Jersey; Rodney Dickerson of Somerdale, New Jersey; Carol Hall of San Antonio, Texas; Sheila (Dolly) Smith of Lindenwald, New Jersey; Linda Solomon of Upper Marlboro, Maryland; Elaine White of Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey; Harold Thomas of Henderson, Nevada; George Thomas of Atlantic City, New Jersey; Herbert Thomas of Atlantic City, New Jersey; Benjamin Thomas of Mays Landing, New Jersey; Theodore Thomas of Pleasantville, New Jersey; Frank McRae of Los Angeles, California; Sophie Williams of Atlantic City, New Jersey; Jean E. Ewell of Portland, Oregon; Shirley Malone of Beaverton, Oregon; and a host of others.

Dr. Joseph Finley Murray will be laid to rest at Quantico National Cemetery with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in the name of Dr. Joseph Finley Murray to Lincoln University's Students First Initiative and Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry