Robert E. Murphy

MURPHY, ROBERT E.
A past President of California Western States Life Ins. Co., passed away peacefully in Palm Springs, CA on February 8, 2002 at the age of 94. Bob, son of Charles W. and Florence Murphy, was born on September 12, 1907 in McCloud, California. Bob received his B.A. in Business Administration at Oregon State University and was a member of Delta Upsilon Fraternity. Bob began in 1931 as Agent, later General Agent of Lincoln National Life; joined California Western Life in 1940 as Agency Manager; Vice President and Manager of Agencies 1944; Executive Vice President and Manager of Agencies in 1952. Elected President and Director in 1954. Director, Institute of Life Insurance, Life Insurance Medical Research Fund; Director Denver-Chicago Trucking Company; Director, LIAMA, LIAA, SS Huebner Foundation for Insurance Education; Trustee, National Fund for Insurance Education. Board member, California Insurance Federation, Inc; Sutter Hospitals Medical Research Foundation; President, Golden Empire Council, Boy Scouts of America; President, Camellia Festival Association; Board member, Sacramento YMCA; California Traffic Safety Foundation; Member of former Governor Edmund G. Brown's Business Advisory Council; Board of Directors, Mayflower Van and Storage; Board of Directors, Wells Fargo American Express. Bob was a member of the Shriner's and Rotary Club (50 years), President of the Sutter Club, Member of Del Paso Country Club, Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, Toastmasters Club, Trade Club, Board of Directors, 20-30 Club, Chairman of the Sacramento Host Committee. Upon moving to Palm Springs after his retirement from Cal-Western, Bob served with the Peace Corps representing President Lyndon B. Johnson's President's Club, in an advisory position for insurance companies in Guatemala, Nicaragua and Mexico. He later became active as a consultant with E.W. Axe Investment Company. Bob's remaining years were spent on his favorite past time which was playing golf at Canyon Country Club where he was a member and attending Rotary meetings. He is preceded in death by his wife Claire Kelly Murphy and five sisters and two brothers as well as his first wife Evelyn I. Murphy. He is survived by 2 children, Robert Murphy, Jr. and daughter-in-law Maria of Reno, NV and Kathleen Moore and son-in-law Steven R. Moore, of Sacramento, CA; 4 grandchildren, Julie Austin, David Moore, Amy Littlejohn and Elizabeth Seal; 5 great grand children, Nicholas and Megan Austin, Sara Littlejohn, and Kelly and Michelle Seal. A private family memorial service will be held, arrangements by Wiefels & Son. Remembrances may be made to Polycystic Kidney Research Foundation, 4901 Main Street, Suite 200, Kansas City, MO 64112-2634 or Forbes Norris MDA-ALS Research Center at California Medical Center, 2324 Sacramento Street, Suite 150, San Francisco, Ca 94115 (pertains to Lou Gehrig & #8217's Disease).