Lawrence Murray (1920 - 2010)
Lawrence F. "Larry" Murray of Tallahassee, passed away peacefully at his
home on Sunday, September 26, 2010, after a long illness
Larry was born and grew up in Alva, Florida. With so few
males in his high school, he played in all sports and served as student body
president for three years until a new family moved to town.
He courageously served his country in World War II. He was
a Captain with the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne
Division, which dropped behind enemy lines in France before dawn on D-Day.
The bravery of the men who, in the face of enemy fire, jumped into the dark
skies of Normandy at midnight on June 5, 1944 when the pilot "turned on the
green light", is well chronicled. Later he was redeployed to the Battle of
the Bulge, was injured in subsequent action and received the Purple Heart.
He spoke little about this part of his life, but never forgot it.
In 1945 Larry married the love of his life, Jean Molly
Donson, whom he met while stationed in England, and returned to Florida. He
worked as a regional representative for Western Auto, and finally owned and
operated his own store in Belle Glade. After retirement, they settled in
Tallahassee and began a life of extensive travel, including touring Europe,
the U.S. and Canada in an orange VW camper.
Larry was predeceased by his brother Richard. He is
survived by his wife, Molly, and two children, Larry and his wife Sandy of
Glastonbury, Connecticut, and Patricia Culbertson and her husband Bob of
Tallahassee, and four grandchildren, Steven and Scott Murray, and Graham and
Rhea Culbertson .Larry was a decorated paratrooper, a loving and devoted
husband, a caring father and grandfather. He was an exceptional man.
A memorial service will be held 4:00 PM, Thursday,
September 30, at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church.
A special "thank you" is due to caregivers Julia, Mae, Gladys and Fay, and
the support received from staff and members of Holy Comforter, The
Alzheimer's Project, and Big Bend Hospice. Fairchild Funeral Home (386-8686)
is handling the arrangements. Lawrence Murray's
remains were cremated. A marker will be placed at the Alva Cemetery in
Alva, Florida, where his family is buried. His ashes will be scattered,
perhaps in two places, Alva and Wollaton Park, Nottingham, England, the home town of his wife, Molly. Published in Tallahassee Democrat on September 29,
2010
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