William Speight Murdoch, Sr.

William Speight Murdoch, Sr. 89 of Lawton Lane, Salisbury died September 13, 2009. Born February 21, 1920 in Salisbury to the late Francis Johnstone Murdoch, Jr. and Josephine Speight Murdoch, he was preceded in death by wives Isabelle Carpenter Murdoch and Mary Catherine Nash Murdoch, a son Julian Carpenter Murdoch, siblings, Eliza Murdoch Lang, Josephine Murdoch Faust, Robert Bruce Murdoch, Alice Murdoch Brown, Della Murdoch Carlton and Seth Speight Murdoch. He is survived by a brother Maj. Gen. Francis Johnstone Murdoch of Bedford, VA; by three sons William Speight Murdoch, Jr. (Adair) of Kingsport, TN; Haynes Carpenter Murdoch (Laura) of Salisbury and Worth Marsh Murdoch (Jane) of Salisbury; step daughters, Sally Lyerly Huffman (Gary) of Lexington, KY and Mandy Lyerly Monath (Rob) of Salisbury; (9) grandchildren Julia Murdoch Self (Josh), Ann Murdoch Zangri (Michael), Joseph Orland Murdoch, Seth Haynes Murdoch, Alice Murdoch Shannon (Gordon), William Speight Murdoch II, Cyrus Krefting, Molly Monath, Lucy Monath and 3 great grandchildren. Educated in the Salisbury School System he graduated from Boyden High School and North Carolina State College, School of Textiles. He was a member of Pi Psi honorary fraternity and was president of Kappa Sigma fraternity. As a member of the varsity wrestling team at State, he was a 1938 Southern Conference champion. A veteran of the Royal Canadian Air Force and U. S. Army, he served in North Africa and Europe (England, France, Belgium and Germany) during World War II. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd (mounted) Cavalry, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and reassigned to the 29th Infantry Division. Serving as a forward observer for the staff of Maj. Gen. Charles H. Gerhardt, he landed prior to the first wave on Omaha Beach during the “D-day” landing in Normandy, France. He was awarded the Silver Star for “conspicuous gallantry in action”, two Bronze Stars for “heroism in ground combat” and “meritorious achievement in ground operations against the enemy”, and received two Purple Hearts. In the days following the invasion he was given a “battlefield promotion” to Captain. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre with palm, individually, by the French government for action in the taking of the German garrison at Saint Lo. After discharge from the Army he spent an additional thirty years in the North Carolina National Guard retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Upon retirement from the National Guard he was awarded the North Carolina Distinguished Service Medal by then Governor Bob Scott. During a forty year career with Cannon Mills, he started as trainee and ended as Senior Vice President and Director of Manufacturing. He also served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. As a life-long member of Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church he served several terms on the vestry and was also Senior Warden and Chair of the Rector Search Committee. His community service included: Mayor Pro-tem of Salisbury City Council; City of Salisbury Planning Board; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Rowan Cabarrus Community College; Board of Trustees of the North Carolina Community College System, Board of Directors, Salisbury-Rowan Y.M.C.A. and President of the Central North Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts of America. For his service to Scouting he was awarded the Silver Beaver Award. He was named Industrial Man of the Year by the Industrial Management Club of the Y.M.C.A. The family would like to express a special thanks to Sharon Clement for her devotion to Bill and Mary Catherine Murdoch. The family will see friends Wednesday from 6-8 PM at Summersett Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 11 AM at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church with Rev. Whayne M. Houghland, Jr officiating. Burial will follow at City Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church, 131 West Council Street, Salisbury, NC 28144 or The Central North Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts of America, PO Box 250, Albemarle, NC 28002. On line condolences can be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

William Speight Murdoch, Sr.

February 21, 1920 - September 13, 2009