Ralph Calvin Murrin

Ralph Calvin Murrin 1922 - 2014 Ralph C. Murrin was born in Franklin, Pennsylvania December 17, 1922 the son of James and Helen Murrin. Ralph graduated from Franklin High School in 1939 and enrolled at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. In 1943 with war declared by Japan, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to infantry training at Camp Roberts, California, followed by appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. While at West Point, Ralph served as cadet captain in two honor guards; first at the burial of Franklin D. Roosevelt in Hyde Park, NY (1945), and later to escort Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, Commander of the British Army (WWII), to Stewart Field, NY (1946). Ralph graduated from West Point in 1947. Ralph married artist Louise Warner of Aliquippa, PA in June 1947. He entered the Army Air Corps and completed pilot training at Randolph Field in San Antonio, Texas, and Barksdale AF Base, LA where he piloted AT-6, B-25, C-47 aircraft. In 1950 he transferred to University of Michigan where he received a masters degree in aeronautical engineering. While in Ann Arbor his daughter Jill was born. In 1952 Ralph was assigned to Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB). Then a Captain in the USAF, his family resided in Fairborn, and Ralph was project engineer for the Atlas Intercontinental Missile Program and flight test manager for the Navaho Intercontinental Missile Program (1954-1956). His son Jim was born on Wright-Patterson AFB during that assignment. In 1956 Ralph resigned his Air Force commission in order to become civilian manager of guided missile development at Wright Air Development Center, WPAFB. Ralph supervised development of the GAM-77 Hound Dog missile, and AGM-65A Maverick missile for the USAF. He retired from civil service in 1973. He and Louise subsequently moved to Osprey, Florida, and then moved between Florida and Ohio several times, ultimately residing in Dublin, Ohio. Wherever he was, Ralph was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and uncle. He enjoyed serving his local Presbyterian church, traveling with family and friends, tennis, fishing, building furniture, and remodeling. Ralph is preceded in death by Louise, his beloved wife of 63 years, and his sister Nita May Thurau. He is survived by his daughter Jill Fugaro and husband Dr. Steve Fugaro of Mill Valley, California, his son Dr. Jim Murrin and wife Anne of Dublin, Ohio, and his grandchildren; Kevin Fugaro of New York City, and Alex Murrin of Washington, D.C. Ralph is also survived by nephews, Rob Thurau and Craig Thurau, nieces Dee Elder and Alice Thurau Hileman, brother-in-law Dr. Robert H. Thurau, and many grand nieces and nephews. Memorial Services and interment will be at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on July 11, 2014. In memorial, the family requests you make donations to Sausalito Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 236, Sausalito, CA 94966. www.sausalitopres.org