Jean W. Murphy

Jean W. Murphy, age 99, passed away on October 10th, 2026 at Polaris Healthcare in Milford, Delaware.

Born on October 1st, 1927 in Milford, Delaware, Jean was the daughter of Lydia Baker and W. D. Wilkins. She married Eugene (Murph) S. Murphy Jr. on May 11, 1950 at her parents' home in Milford. Jean was preceded in death by her parents, husband (1974), and her older brother, Loraine. She was a proud member of the McCabe family, having descended from her grandmother Baker.

Jean is survived by her 2 sons, Steven (Lori LaFave) of Falls Church, Virginia, and Patrick (Marissa) of Orange City, Florida. Jean has 4 grandchildren, Deirdre (Falls Church), Eugene (Benicia, California), Cian (Falls Church), and Ceara (Falls Church) and 4 great grandchildren. In addition to an extensive family in the USA, Jean has extended family in the Philippines through Pat's marriage with Marissa.

Jean and Murph built a house on New Street in Milford in 1957, where she raised her 2 sons and cared for her husband after a serious illness occurred in 1967 until he passed away in 1974. She resided there until early 2024.

Jean graduated from Milford High School in 1945 and attended one year at the University of Delaware. She was an active member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary after World War II.

Jean went to work as a shareholder and bookkeeper in the family business, Milford Wholesale Grocery Company, from its inception in 1946 until its closing in 1979. The grocery company employed Jean and her brother, Loraine, and their father, Bill Wilkins, and scores of others over 4 decades of operation. Milford Wholesale Grocery stocked dozens of small grocery stores in Delaware during that time. She thereafter worked as an office manager at Grizzly's Landscape Supply in Milford until she retired at age 70.

Jean played basketball in high school. She and Murph fully supported Steve and Pat’s little league activities and while they were playing sports in school. In later years, Jean enjoyed watching Eugene and Cian play ice hockey and Deirdre play softball and basketball.

Jean and Murph also ensured that Steve and Pat went to see the Orioles and Phillies play. Some of the best family moments were spent at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore and Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia. In later years, Loraine was typically the family chauffeur who ensured everyone had a ride to those games.

After Jean retired, she enjoyed taking trips with friends across the USA, to Europe, and Israel. She also enjoyed mentoring elementary children at Lulu Ross Elementary School in Milford and working with an autistic child.

Jean’s parents had a summer cottage for many years in Oak Orchard, Delaware, where she enjoyed spending time in Riverdale and had friends there among the Nanticoke Indians, including Chief Clark. She also enjoyed boating, water skiing, and crabbing on the Indian River.

She was proud to be the first passenger after her son Pat became a pilot and enjoyed flights with him from the former Milford Air Park and as far away as California. She often recited stories of seeing the Rose Bowl parade in Pasadena, California, and playing golf with friends there and around the USA.

Jean loved all animals, including dogs and cats, but especially cats. Both the Murphy family and Wilkins family had numerous cats (and a few dogs) as pets through the years, and that love of animals continues through the current generations.

Jean was a lifelong member of Avenue United Methodist Church in Milford. She was an expert bridge player and an inaugural member of the Shawnee Country Club in Milford, where she enjoyed playing golf, bridge and sunbathing at the pool. As a young adult, she enjoyed playing bridge with friends. In later years, she enjoyed playing bridge at the Milford Senior Center.

She was proud to have personally met former President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalyn Carter in Plains, Georgia, and Senator Joe Biden at an event in Milford, Delaware.

Jean had a great memory of her entire life and relished the opportunity to tell stories of her early life in Milford, Georgetown, and Oak Orchard and later life with her husband and children.

A private burial service will be held at Odd Fellows Cemetery (now Milford Community Cemetery).

A “Celebration of Life” will be held in the Sanctuary at Avenue United Methodist Church, 20 Church Street, Milford, on Sunday, Nov. 15th at 1 pm with food and conversation provided after the service in Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to Avenue United Methodist Church (avenueumc.com) or The ALS Association (als.org).