William John (Bill) Murray of Lakewood, California was lovingly surrounded by his family when he passed on Sunday August 9, 2015, after waging a brief battle with lung cancer. Bill was pre-deceased by his beloved and loving wife Pat (Patterson) of 55 years, eldest son Joseph Keith, brother James, and sister Lois. Bill is survived by his devoted sons Kenneth (& Sheryl) of Lompoc, CA, Kevin of Long Beach, CA, Bill Jr. (& Christina) of Long Beach, CA, and Tom (& Mindy) of Lompoc, CA. His four wonderful grandchildren, Mark, Amanda, Alyssa, and Bradley also survive him. Bill was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 24, 1930, the eldest of the three children of Joseph and Claire Murray. In 1948, at the age of 17, Bill joined the US Navy and proudly served aboard the USS Aventinus during the Korean War. Bill was honorably discharged in 1952 and decided to resume his civilian life in Southern California. In 1956 Bill began his 34-year career at Southern California Edison, working at numerous power plants in Southern California. Bill met the love of his life, Pat, in 1952. They were married on April 11, 1953 and moved into their house in Lakewood in 1963. It was in this home that they raised five boys and enjoyed an additional 45 years together before Pat's passing on June 6, 2008. Bill deeply loved, and was extremely proud of, his family and his country. He was also proud of being a veteran, a staunch member of The Utility Worker's Union of America, and a faithful believer at Saint Pancratius Catholic Church in Lakewood, CA Those of us fortunate enough to have known Bill appreciated his friendship, his loyalty, his humor, his wisdom and common sense, and his willingness to stand-up for what he believed was right. At SoCal Edison, Bill was a fervent defender of workers' rights, and if he thought a co-worker was being singled-out or denied his rights, Bill was not afraid to, "mix it up" with management. In fact, at his retirement party in 1990, one of Bill's Managers told him, "not everyone may have liked you, but everyone respected you". That was just fine by Bill, because although he was friendly to all, he would never have compromised a co-worker's rights for the sake of his own popularity with management. Bill, "never met a stranger" and formed friendships and acquaintances everywhere he went. During his twice-daily neighborhood walks, Bill could always be seen conversing, laughing at, and telling jokes, and discussing all that was right or wrong, in our world. He often arrived home late for dinner, but that was fine with Pat. After Pat's passing, Bill devoted himself to The SoCal Edison Romeo's, to his Wednesday night gatherings at Curley's, and to helping others in the neighborhood that had also lost their partners. All of us who knew and loved Bill have lost a beacon, a standard, a force, and a caring and loyal father, grandfather, friend, and confidant. Our lives will never be the same for having known him, and now, for having lost him. We take great comfort in the fact that Bill is with the love of his life, with his son, and with those others, who were important to him, and who went on before him. Rosary will be at the Luyben Dilday Mortuary at 5161 E. Arbor Road in Long Beach, on Thursday August 13th beginning at 6PM. Services will be held at Saint Pancratius Catholic Church at 3519 St. Pancratius Place, Lakewood, on Friday August 14th at 10 AM, with interment to follow at All Souls Cemetery at 4400 Cherry Avenue in Long Beach, California. In lieu of gifts and flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Bill's name to Gerinet Hospice Health Care or to your favorite Veteran's Charity. For more information, please contact the Luyben Dilday Mortuary@ (562) 425-6401.
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