Joseph E. "JOE" Murray, Business Executive/Accountant Joseph E. Murray, 82, beloved husband of 50 years of the late Rita (nee Mueller) and later life husband to the late Evelyn (nee Allen). Loving and devoted father of Kathleen (Michael) Ball, Maureen (Michael) Cunningham and Patrick, Sr. (Lily) Murray. Cherished grandpa of Michelle (Blake) Edwards, Erica (Greg) Lewis, Amy Ball, Michael (Jessica) Ball, Andrea Cunningham, Lauren Cunningham, Brittany Murray, Jennifer Murray, Natalie Murray, Kelley Murray, Patrick, Jr. Murray and Shannon Murray and great-grandpa of Kaitlynn and Alexis Kiehl, Haley Cunningham, Genevieve, Julianna, Gabriella and Jacob Lewis. Special step-father of Peggy (J.R.) Elsass, Thomas Johnston, Nancy (Scott) Brulport and Patty Johnston. He was preceded in death by his parents Agnes (Leahy) and Charles Raymond Murray, brother, Thomas Murray, Sr., and sisters Marjorie (Thomas) Beckert and Mary Regina "Jeanne" Murray. Survived by many special nieces, nephews, family and friends. Joe was born May 28, 1926 in Piqua, Ohio. He attended Piqua Catholic High School (Lehman). While attending high school, he worked as an accountant for William Lear at Lear Avia. In 1944, he and seven male classmates were graduated early and entered World War II. He was the only one of the seven to survive the war having served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and attaining the rank of Corporal before his honorable discharge in 1946. Following the war, he studied at the University of Cincinnati and continued work as a public accountant and was with several firms including his own during his career. Most notably, he enjoyed his diverse work with audit clients at A.A. Feltrup & Company from 1970 to 1986. In 1986, at the age of 60, he joined Gentile Brothers Produce Company as Vice President of Finance and Administration. During his 16 year tenure with the company, he helped the company prosper through three major external disruptions: a heavy fire, the flood of 1997 and a corporate relocation brought on by the construction of Paul Brown Stadium on the company's original river bottoms site. He continued as a director of Gentile Brothers Company until his death. Joe was a parishioner at All Saints Church in Montgomery and a member of the Halker-Flege American Legion Post No. 69, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, Honorary member of the Associate Police Captains Cincinnati Police Division, Honorary Secretary of Agriculture in the State of Kentucky. Visitation will be Friday May 15th from 5:00pm to 8:00pm at Gilligan Funeral Home in Kenwood, 8225 Montgomery Road. Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday May 16th at All Saints Catholic Church, 8939 Montgomery Road , Cincinnati, Ohio 45236 at 11:00am. Burial to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 11000 Montgomery Road with an Irish Wake to follow. Memorials can be made to St. Joseph's Catholic Church in the West End, 745 Ezzard Charles Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45203, and Guest House for Catholic Priests at Guest House, Inc., P.O. Box 36, Lake Orion, MI 48361. Editorial Obituary available at the Cincinnati Enquirer online.

Service

Friday, May 15, 2009 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Gilligan Funeral Home 3734 Eastern Avenue Cincinnati 45226, United States

Service

Saturday, May 16, 2009 11:00 AM All Saints Catholic Church 8939 Montgomery Road Cincinnati 45236, United States