Kenneth Murray

Murray, Kenneth Kenneth Somerset Murray, 83, of Winter Park, Florida passed away on Good Friday, March 25, 2016 of metastatic melanoma cancer while at his home and surrounded by his family. He was born in Villa Nova, Pennsylvania on July 10, 1932 as the son of Catharine Cox Murray and Howard Lenford Murray. Ken attended the Haverford School where he was captain of the gymnastics team, and he graduated from the University of Virginia in 1955. A Korean War Veteran, Ken served in an Army cryptographic unit as well as on the draft board under the Nixon and Ford administrations. Ken moved to central Florida in 1958 to work at the First National Bank (currently SunTrust). He later became owner and Chief Financial Officer of Budget Rent a Car of Florida. Through the years, Ken was involved in many aspects of the Central Florida community he so loved. He served on the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce of Orlando, Junior Achievement of Central Florida, SunTrust of College Park, and most recently Friends of American Art at the Orlando Museum of Art. Ken was a member of Interlachen Country Club and All Saints Episcopal Church of Winter Park, Florida. Ken enjoyed a variety of activities and hobbies throughout his life, including boating in the Atlantic and Lake Powell, hiking Colorado's 14,000 foot peaks, golfing, traveling, and writing books and poetry. Ken is survived by his loving wife Beth; his son Blake Somerset Murray of Lake Mary, FL and his wife Susan Kilger Murray; his son Hunter Lenford Murray of Orlando, FL; his daughter Catharine Ann Murray of Orlando, FL and Chris Earleywine; and his daughter Jennifer Murray McAlexander of Santa Rosa Beach, FL and her husband Alfred Andrew McAlexander. He is also survived by three grandchildren Paige Catherine Gay of Winter Park, FL and her husband Daniel Gay; Audrey Somerset McAlexander and Alfred Andrew McAlexander. Ken is also survived by his brother Craig Compton Murray and his wife Beth Tanzman; nephews Alec Murray (Johanna), Owen Murray, Kent Murray (Susan) and niece Dona Gray Murray. Ken is predeceased by his parents and his brother, Donald Lenford Murray. A memorial service will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church in Winter Park on Thursday, March 31st at 11:00am. Ken's ashes will be interred in a memorial reef in the Gulf of Mexico off of Grayton Beach, Florida as per his wishes. This will be done in coordination with South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA) a non-profit organization dedicated to the construction, deployment, and monitoring of permitted artificial reefs in Walton County's coastal waters for the benefit and health of environment and community. We would like to thank his team of physicians, Dr. Ivan Castro, Dr. Lee Zehngebot , Dr. Donald Behrmann and Dr. Nikhil Rao for his excellent care while battling metastatic melanoma of the brain for the past 15 months. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Orlando Museum of Art, attention: Friends of American Art at 2416 North Mills Avenue Orlando, Florida 32803.