Helen Chase Murphy

Murphy Helen Chase Murphy, 79, died at Kendal at Oberlin Ohio on April 3, 2003. Born in Nampa Idaho, she grew up on the family farm and studied at the College of Idaho and at the University of Oregon where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing education and became a Registered Nurse. She lived in St. Paul Minnesota for many years before moving to Oberlin in 1994. She was married to Paul Lloyd Murphy from 1946 to 1985. An active community volunteer, Girl Scout leader, Unitarian Church Sunday School teacher, editor, and research specialist/ administrative assistant for the Center for Research in Human Learning at the University of Minnesota, her interests included serving others, modern design and architectural history, traveling, and collecting Minnesota art pottery, baskets and folk crafts. Survivors include Patricia Murphy (Oberlin) and Karen Murphy Rhu (Columbia, South Carolina), sons-in-law Keith Koenning and Lawrence Rhu, grandchildren Scott and Anne Koenning and Sarah and Daniel Rhu, a brother Carl F. Chase (Nampa, Idaho), a sister Marjorie Block (Winston-Salem, North Carolina), nieces and nephews, and many friends. She was preceded in death by a sister and by her parents. Memorials may be made to Kendal at Oberlin Staff Education Fund (600 Kendal Drive, Oberlin, Ohio 44074) or Oberlin Heritage Center/O.H.I.O. Endowment Fund (P.O. Box 0455, Oberlin, Ohio 44074). A memorial service was held at Kendal on Monday, April 7th.

Published on April 10, 2003