James T. "Buster" Murphy Jr.'s Obituary
Dr. James Thomas Murphy, Jr., (Buster), died December 4, 2018, at Orlando Regional
Medical Center, the same hospital in which he was born nearly 89 years before. Buster
was born on December 14, 1929, to James T. and Gladys Davis Murphy. He attended
Orlando High School, and after graduating in 1948 he served four years in the United
States Navy. He continued his education at the University of Florida, earning his
Bachelors, Masters, and PHD in Electrical Engineering. He was an active member of Phi
Delta Theta fraternity and maintained lifelong friendships with his fraternity brothers.
Buster spent his early career in the 1950’s and 60’s working in the burgeoning aerospace
industry in Central Florida for Radiation, Dynatronics, and Martin - Marietta. In later
years, he was a professor in the School of Engineering at the University of Virginia, he
worked at Cornell Aeronautical Labs, and he was a consultant with Bell Laboratories in
New Jersey.
He married Sue Crownover in 1958, and together they raised three daughters . Buster’s
employment opportunities took the family from Orlando , FL, to Charlottesville, VA, to
Cattaraugus, NY, and finally back to Central Florida.
In 1983, Buster married Valerie van Allen and became a loving and influential father to
her three children. He retired from Lockheed Martin in 1993, and Buster became known
as the “Unofficial Mayor” of his neighborhood , Oakwater Pointe. Throughout his life
Buster enjoyed gardening, caring for horses, and delighting in his children and
grandchildren. To the mystification of his friends and family; however, his consuming
passion was always mathematics.
Buster was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Frank W. (Speedy) Murphy, and
his daughter, Michelle Murphy Donohue. He is survived by his wife Valerie, his children
Kendell Murphy, Carol (Steve) Farmer, Bryant Lee Day, Justin (Kristy) Day, and Erin
Day, 14 grandchildren, and 4 great - grandchildren, a great - grand son he was thrilled to
learn would be added to the family in June, his sisters - in - law Marcia Murphy and Tamara
(Howard) Keys , and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.
A graveside service will be held at Greenwood Cemetery, 1603 Greenwood Street,
Orlando, FL 32801, on Tuesday, December 18, 2018, at 11:00 AM, with a reception from
12 to 2 pm at Embassy Suites Hotel, 191 Pine Street, Orlando.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in Buster’s memory to Cornerstone
Hospice ORMC (www.cshospice.org) and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
( www.nationalmssociety.org ).
What’s your fondest memory of James T.?
What’s a lesson you learned from James T.?
Share a story where James T.'s kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with James T. you’ll never forget.
How did James T. make you smile?