Dester “Gene” Murphy, 74, of Dayton, TN, died Sunday morning, October 7, 2012 at Rhea Medical Center.
He was born August 21, 1938 in Whitley City, KY to the late John and Eliza (Watson) Murphy. A resident of Dayton since 1988, he retired as a Captain with the Chattanooga Fire Department, and then worked as deputy with the Sheriff’s Department in Wartburg and then in security with TVA at Watts Bar. He was a member of the Scottish Rite, a Shriner and a Mason. He served his country with the U.S. Air Force and the National Guard.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy (Prater) Murphy of Dayton; daughters, Tammy (Bill) Duncan of Decatur, Tina (Mike) Morrow Brown of Charleston and Teresa (Edward) Burns of Belvidere; brothers, Don (Martha) Murphy of Pelham, AL and John (Jan) Murphy of Dayton Mountain; three granddaughters; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Gene will be held Tuesday, October 9 at 7 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Paul Stidham officiating. He will be laid to rest in Spring City Memorial Gardens Wednesday, October 10 at 11 a.m.
The family is being served by the Vanderwall Funeral Home where they will receive friends Tuesday, October 9 from 5-7 p.m.