FRANKLIN, IN.
The Reverend Dr. William “Ted” Murphy, 95, of Franklin, Indiana, passed away on Friday, February 2, 2024, at the IU Medical Center North in Carmel, Indiana, surrounded by his loving family. Ted was born in Bloomington, Indiana, on April 11, 1928, to the late Clarence and Martha (Farr) Murphy. In 1948 he married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Wanda “Joan” Buckner, who faithfully helped and supported him throughout his service in the ministry. Ted and Joan were married for 71 years. In 1946 Ted began his ministry as a student pastor while attending college. He then went on to serve churches in Newark, New Jersey, when he was a student at Drew Theological Seminary. After being ordained, he became a member of the South Indiana United Methodist Conference and served churches in Bedford, Linton, New Albany, and Terre Haute. Ted also served six years as a district superintendent for the Indianapolis Southeast District of the Indiana United Methodist Conference. His last appointment was as executive director of the Franklin United Methodist Retirement Community in Franklin, Indiana, where he oversaw an extensive expansion of the retirement community with the addition of new cottages and a special care unit to the health center that was named in his honor. Ted was a graduate of Bloomington High School, Indiana University, and Drew Theological Seminary. He was also awarded three honorary doctorates, one from the University of Indianapolis and two from Franklin College, and in 2020 was awarded a Sagamore of the Wabash for distinguished Hoosiers. During his years as a member of the South Indiana United Methodist Conference, he served on several church commissions including the youth camping program. For many years he was a chaplain for the Indiana State Police, and he was also chaplain for the New Albany Fire Department during his time as a pastor there. He served 16 years on the Franklin City Council. To the end of his life, he served on the boards of Asbury Towers Retirement Community in Greencastle, Indiana, Glenburn Home in Linton, Indiana, and Johnson County Senior Services which kept him young. Ted was known for his faith and his family. Throughout his life, he was a beloved pastor who took joy in helping others and a beloved son, son-in-law, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, and uncle who loved his family dearly. Ted was preceded in death by his wife, Wanda Joan (Buckner) Murphy, his parents, Clarence Curtis and Martha Alice (Farr) Murphy, his brothers, David Howard Murphy and Phillip Clarence Murphy, an infant sister, Nancy Murphy, and a daughter-in-law, Wanda Lee (King) Murphy. He is survived by his three children: William D. Murphy of Greenfield, IN, Charles R. Murphy (Elizabeth) of New Albany, IN, and Carol A. Thorne (David) of Fishers, IN. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Laura Koenig (Jonathan Harvey) of North Chesterfield, VA, Ryan Murphy of Newport Beach, CA, Kate Mazelin (Jeffrey) of Winter Garden, FL, Mark Koenig (Katie) of Carmel, IN, Amy Grover (Bill) of Floyds Knobs, IN, Anne Cannon (Steven) of Crestwood, KY, Christina Koenig of Noblesville, IN, and Adam Thorne of Fishers, IN, and eight great-grandchildren, Jonah Harvey, Allison and Owen Koenig, Wyatt, Cooper, and Samuel Mazelin, Victoria Grover, and Colton Cannon.
Visitation will be held Friday, February 9, from 5 to 8 PM at Swartz Family Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 S. Morton Street, Franklin, Indiana 46131, and Saturday, February 10, 2024 from 10 to 11 AM at Grace United Methodist Church, 1300 E. Adams Drive, Franklin, Indiana 46131, with the funeral to follow at 11 AM and will be live-streamed at https://m.youtube.com/@franklingraceumc9586/streams
Reverend David Buckner (nephew of Ted), Reverend Bert Kite, and Reverend Joe Trueblood will conduct the funeral service that be live-streamed at www.swartzmortuary.com Ted will be laid to rest at Franklin’s Greenlawn Cemetery, 100 W. South Street, Franklin, Indiana 46131. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in “Dr. William T. Murphy’s memory” to Johnson County Senior Services, 36 Tracy Road, Whiteland, Indiana 46184. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.swartzmortuary.com. Information 317-738-0202.
