Dale W. Murphy, 87, of Rockledge died Wednesday, November 1, 2023. Born in Buffalo, New York, he was the son of Ivan and Lillian (Pickerl) Murphy. Dale graduated from Ela Vernon High School in Lake Zurich, Illinois in 1954 and married Barbara M. (Ward) Murphy in 1957. A 1963 graduate of Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, Dale and his family moved to Rockledge in 1971 where he was an English teacher at Merritt Island High School and Rockledge High School, retiring in 2001. For more than 60 years, Dale also worked as a fire truck driver at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Indy 500 Race Week, and in later years, in Track Rescue team support, retiring in 2022. He was an active member of Cross Bridge Church in Rockledge.
Dale was preceded in death by his beloved wife Barbara, and his siblings Carolyn, Chasteen, and Daniel Murphy. He is survived by three sons, Michael (Mary) of South Carolina, Mark (Maureen) of New York, and Marlin (Susan) of Illinois; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; his sister Mary Ellen Wheeler of Illinois, six sisters- and brothers-in-law; and many nephews and nieces.
A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, November 12, at 2:00 at Cross Bridge Church, 651 Barnes Blvd., Rockledge. It will also be livestreamed at https://crossbridgechurchofthenazarene.online.church/
Memorial contributions may be made to the Barbara Murphy Memorial Student Center Fund at Cross Bridge Church, 651 Barnes Blvd., Rockledge, FL 32955 by mail or online at https://crossbridgechurch.churchcenter.com/giving, and select “Engage Initiative”; or to the W. & A. Skow Oliver Scholarship Fund at Taylor University, 1846 Main St., Upland, IN 46989 by mail or online at https://www.Taylor.edu/give2scholarships and put “W. & A. Skow Oliver Fund” in the comments section.