Rolf Murray

Rolf Charles Murray, a dedicated veteran, devoted husband, and respected member of his community, passed away on February 6, 2025, at the age of 91. A visitation will be 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Thursday, February 13, 2025, in the Elmwood Funeral Home Chapel, 5750 Hwy 277 South. Funeral Services will be 12:00 PM, Friday, February 14, 2025, at Southside Baptist Church, 1425 S. Seventh Street. Interment will follow in the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene. 

Born on November 28, 1933, in Baldwin City, Kansas, Rolf graduated from high school and enlisted in the United States Air Force to avoid the draft. He served his country honorably for 20 years, from July 30, 1952, until August 1, 1972, retiring as a Master Sergeant.

For twelve years, Rolf worked as an aircraft mechanic on the F-80, T-33, F-84, B-47, and B-52 aircraft. He then transitioned to Production Control, where he served for eight years. From October 1967 to November 1968, he was stationed in Vietnam, scheduling C-130 aircraft in support of airlift operations. After returning to Dyess Air Force Base, he completed three additional tours in Southeast Asia, supporting B-52 bombing raids over Vietnam.

Following his retirement from active duty, Rolf continued his career as an electronic service technician with Lee Masters Sound City for four years. He pursued higher education at Cisco Junior College, earning a degree in Maintenance Management. In 1977, he joined Hendrick Medical Center as a biomedical technician.

In 1981, Rolf returned to Dyess Air Force Base as a civil service employee, contributing to the support of C-130 and B-1B flight simulators. After more than two decades of dedicated service, he retired from government civil service in 2003. That same year, he married his beloved wife, Phyllis, beginning a new chapter filled with love and companionship.

Rolf will be remembered for his unwavering dedication to his country, his passion for his work, and the love he shared with his family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his first wife, Margot Helena Helgert; his son, Rolf Danny Murray; his second wife, Phyllis Colleen Murray; his four older siblings, Vera Lucille Murray, Ona Faye Murray, Verl Orvis Murray, and Lola Irene Murray; his stepfather, John Spiegel; half-brother, John Edward Spiegel; and half-sisters, Shirley Ann Spiegel, and Joyce Ella Spiegel.

Rolf is survived by his daughter, Monika Faye Smith and husband, Steve; his grandson Jeremy Chad Smith and wife Kristi; grandson, Shawn Michael Smith, and great-grandson Mason Jeremiah Smith Phyllis’ six children, Beth White, Peggy Stempel, Nancy Robinson and husband Bruce, Laura Graves and husband Bill, Fred Cooper and wife Teri, Susan Schwartz and husband David; and fifteen grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren.