Ruth Anne Raughley Gilstad Murphy
Formerly of Milford, passed away peacefully at her home in Wisconsin on February 1, 2012. She was 91.
She was born on May 7, 1920 in Harrington, daughter of the late Ernest and Ethel (Clarkson) Raughley.
Ruth graduated from Harrington High in 1938 and attended the University of Delaware and the Philadelphia School of Art.
After graduation, she worked for the Graphic Arts Department at DuPont in Seaford. While working there, she met her first husband, Arnold Gilstad. They married in 1944, had two daughters, Susan and Anne, and were divorced in 1970. Ruth's second marriage in 1974 was to Charles Murphy.
Ruth's passion was being an artist. She studied painting and ceramics at the Philadelphia School of Art, studied oil painting with Harold Schroeder and exhibited at the Rehoboth Art League and the Sail Loft. She was also accomplished at playing bridge and knitting.
She taught painting classes and Sunday school and sang in the Senior Choir while a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Harrington. After moving to Milford, Ruth joined the Avenue United Methodist Church.
In addition to her parents, Ruth was preceded in death by her first husband, Arnold Burton Gilstad and by her second husband, Charles Duer Murphy II.
She is survived by two daughters, Susan Gilstad of Grand View, WI and Anne Miller and her husband Rick of Hanover, PA; a step-daughter, Sharon Bailey and her husband Jay of Milford; three step-sons, Charles Murphy III and his wife Kathleen of The Sea Ranch, CA; John H. Murphy and his wife Carol of Milford and Harry Murphy of Milford; one granddaughter, Raughley Anne Koehler and her husband Richard of Fairbanks, AK; two grandsons, Andy Miller and Dave Miller, both of Hanover, PA; nine step-grandchildren, Lorin Murphy, Kirsten Murphy, Charles Bailey, Patrick Bailey, Jennifer Rostocki, Molly Chorman, Nathaniel Murphy, Allison Murphy and Alexander Murphy; seven great-grandchildren, Timothy Burton Koehler, Miles Murphy, Lucy Louise Chorman, Ace Murphy, Chase Rostocki, Hope Bailey and Connor Bailey; a cousin, Mrs. Julian Massey of Dover and children Barbara and Ed Sidel of Dover and Michael and Caroline Massey of Bishopville, MD; the children of her cousin Mrs. Guy Winebrenner: Debbie and Gene Topolski of Milford and Ginny Guy and Ginny Winebrenner of Cary, NC; her cousin, Margaret Ann Sherman Bryan of Easton, MD and Christine Powell, her dear friend from Harrington.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 5, 2012 at the Avenue United Methodist Church, 20 N. Church St, Milford, where friends may greet the family at 1:30 p.m.
Burial will be held following the service at the Raughley family plot in the Hollywood Cemetery in Harrington.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that you visit with an elderly person in a Nursing Home or at their home. Ruth sold many oil paintings over the years and her daughters would love to receive a photograph of any paintings you may have. You can mail them to Susan Gilstad, P.O. Box 154, Grand View, WI, 54839.
Arrangements handled by Rogers Funeral Home, Milford.
(02/01/12)