PopPop's Eulogy

I wanted to share this... written by my mom for PopPop's eulogy:



Eulogy for Russell Monroe Murphy 7/9/91 by Glennie Jo Wolfe, his daughter

When the doctor called the night of July 3rd to tell us that my Dad was in trouble, I did two things I knew he and Mom would do --- I prayed and I reached for my Bible. One verse jumped out at me: Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."



Daddy's treasure wasn't money. His treasures were God, his country, his family and his friends.



Dad loved God. He looked forward to going to church and hearing each sermon. He'd taught a Sunday School clasds ever since I could remember. I know that he made a difference in a lot of lives--- one little boy of six who'd had Dad for a teacher grew up to be a missionary in Venezuela and made sure he came back to let Dad know before he went overseas.



I don't know for sure how many times Dad read the Bible through from cover to cover but I know he read it daily. It leaves a real impression on a child to see her father reading the Bible for pure enjoyment and not just in times of trouble.



Dad was so proud of his country. He truly loved the United States and did his best to instill tha tlove in me, my children and the people he met. He was a patriot even when patriotism wasn't in style. He loved to display the American flag and even put flag stickers in his greeting cards. Several of Dad's friends have mentioned that it seemed fitting somehow that Dad died on the 4th of July.



The picture above the coffin is of Dad when he was 4 years old. It was taken for his brother Milton who was in France in World War I at the time. Dad recited a poem while dressed up as a soldier that day:


"I'm a little soldier In the army, too. Jesus is my captain He will see me through."



He loved each of his grandchildren and made sure that everyone he met knew that he had the smartest, best-looking and most athletic ones around. He constantly encouraged them and assured them that he loved them. He was always interested in me and my life and worked hard for me.



He was a completely family-oriented man. He loved telling stories of when he and his nephew Barney were young and how much fun he'd had growing up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. He dearly loved his brothers and sisters and tried to keep close to his sisters Kathleen and Pauline even though the miles separated them.



Dad and Mom were married 48 years. Dad loved Mom and she took better care of him than any wife I've seen. They prayed together (which is probably one reason for their long marriage). They also laughed--Daddy was a tease. One of my fondest childhood memorie is of Mom chasing Dad in game at a church picnic. Dad enjoyed those picnics and the church softball gamesd. It seemed to me that he could hit the ball farther than any of the other dads. He loved meeting people and making new friends. He had a real gift for telling a funny story and putting people at ease.



Dad certainly loved life itself. He'd take a mound of dirt in our backyard and grow the most beautiful flowers and vegetables to share with his family and friends. He was generous and loving. On Father's Day last month, I sent him a card with flowers on it and told him how any time I saw beauty in nature I thought of him. Now I always will. I told Dad in that card that I was proud of him. I'm so glad I had the chance to tell him that because I really was lucky to have him for my father.