Kenneth (Ken) Murphy met Jesus to claim his Eternal Reward on Friday, June 26, 2026. He was a native of New York State’s Leatherstocking Region. The devoted husband of Patricia Ann (Willoughby) for 46 years, he was preceded in death by his parents, Robert, and Alma (Ellsworth) Murphy. Ken was survived by his son Matthew (Heidi), daughter Kathryn, granddaughter, Amelia, sisters Rosanne and Mary as well as his brothers James (Lorraine) and Charles (Phyllis).

His childhood was spent on a dairy farm in the Town of Springfield, and he attended the local schools. Ken studied analytical chemistry at Syracuse University and was granted a Doctorate in Environmental Engineering by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1969. Following graduation, he had a brief employment at Dow Chemical in Michigan and then joined Schenectady General Electric. Specializing in environmental testing and pollution control systems design, Ken travelled extensively, including a 7-year assignment in Lebanon, PA. He retired in 2002 from the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (a legacy operation of GE). Shortly after retirement, Ken and Pat relocated to the Lake Holiday community of Virginia, where he served on Association Governing Boards and was active in a weekly golf group, until moving to Winchester in 2017. At about the same time, the Murphy’s began wintering at the Moultrie Oaks Retirement Park in St. Augustine where Ken manned the grill on burger day and enjoyed golfing.

For several years in his youth, he played the tuba with the Cooperstown Community Band and after college, Ken became an avid downhill skier. He partnered in a lodge in Killington, VT and often travelled to the Sierra and Rocky Mountain ski resorts.

Finally, he was a devoted communicant of his local Catholic Churches and read Scripture at Masses for more than 40 years.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, from 6pm to 8pm at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 11:00am at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to National Shrine of the Divine Mercy, 2 Prospect Hill Rd., Stockbridge, MA 01262, Blue Ridge Care, 333 W. Cork St., Suite 405, Winchester, VA 22601 or any animal shelter of the donor’s choice.