Hugh Murphy was born in Arden, WV (Barbour County) on June 10, 1926, to Charles and Goldie Wilson Murphy. His given name was Wilson McHugh Murphy after several of his relatives.
He graduated from Philippi High School in 1944 and soon after entered the US Navy. He served two years in the South Pacific during the final days of World War II. At the time of his honorable discharge, his rank was Yeoman 3rd Class.
He then enrolled in West Virginia Business College and went to work for the Kroger Company as a meat cutter. After 20 years with Kroger, he purchased a market on Main Street in Weston. He named it Murphy’s Self-service Market.
After five years, he sold Murphy’s Self-service Market and purchased an Archway Cookies franchise. He became known as the Cookie Man.
After 17 years, he retired from Archway and enrolled in Duke University Divinity School where he became an ordained minister. He pastored four churches on the Glenville Charge during that time and retired at the age of 70.
At the age of 77, Reverend Murphy was called back into the ministry again to serve the Glenville Charge, before retiring again at age 80.
Reverend Murphy also served as chaplain for the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital.
He joined Broad Street United Methodist Church in 1956 and was a lay speaker for 40 years in the United Brethren and United Methodist Churches.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Judy Rothwell Randolph Murphy. The couple was married on June 19, 1960, at the chapel at Jackson’s Mill State 4H Camp.
He has two children, Jonathan David Murphy (spouse Sheryl Lockamy Murphy) of Chesapeake, VA and Mary Elizabeth Murphy Taylor (spouse Marvin Lynn Taylor) of Charleston, WV.
He has four grandchildren, Brenna Cummings Murphy of Las Vegas, NV, Reverend Joshua Hugh Taylor (spouse Sarah Elisabeth Broom Taylor) of Sunbury, OH, Noah Lee Taylor (spouse Kate Rebekah Hartsock Taylor) of Lancaster, PA, Lieutenant Jacob Owen Murphy of Norfolk, VA, and Christopher Warren Farley (spouse Jessica S. Farley) of Chesapeake, VA.
He has four great-grandchildren, Silas Hugh Taylor, Judah Aaron Taylor, and Haven Elisabeth Taylor all of Akron, OH and Christian Warren Lee Farley of Chesapeake, VA.
A memorial service will be held on August 14 at 3:00PM at Broad Street United Methodist Church (221 US-33, Weston, WV, 26452). Afterward, he will be laid to rest at Shiloh Church Cemetery in Barbour County (immediate family only).
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Pioneer Club at Broad Street United Methodist Church. Donations may be mailed to Broad Street UM Church C/O Pioneer Kids Club PO Box 1286 Weston, WV 26452.
Online condolences may be extended to the Murphy family at www.heavnerandcutright.com The Murphy family has entrusted the Heavner and Cutright Funeral Chapel and Cremation Services with funeral arrangements.
