Delbert Milton Murray entered into rest on March 19, 2024. He was born to Chester and Iris (Hamilton) Murray on August 22, 1941 in Fordland, Missouri. The youngest of three brothers and one sister, he grew up on the family farm in Fordland until they moved to Ava and built a new house for their parents.
Delbert attended Southwest Missouri State University and received an Engineering degree. During college, he played trumpet as part of the ROTC band. After graduation, he put his engineering skills to work with McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis.
On September 15, 1962, Delbert married Orilla Stoaks, to whom he remained married for 54 years until her passing in 2016. It was in St. Louis that they began their family with the birth of their first child, Cynthia in 1964. They then moved to Wichita, Kansas where their three remaining children, Norman, Orilla, and Delbert, were born. While there, Delbert worked for Boeing and National Cash Register. Following the death of his mother, Delbert moved his family to Ava in 1977 so he could be closer to his father and help care for him. Delbert began working for Emerson Electric in May 1977 and retired from there 30 years later.
Delbert loved his Lord and was dedicated to serving in churches he attended. A loyal supporter of the Church of God (Holiness), he served on the church boards in both Wichita, Kansas and Mt. Zion Church of God (Holiness) while he attended there. He served as the board chairman at the Mt. Zion church for more than 40 years before his health failed. He loved to support missions, both home and foreign, as well as Bible schools. His support extended well beyond giving financially. Many building maintenance needs in the church, houses, or other needs often were quietly taken care of as he showed his care. He also was a member of the Ava Camp of the Gideons for years to promote the sharing of God’s Word into more places.
Delbert served his community. He was Fire Chief and first responder in the Ava Rural Fire Department. for nearly 30 years. During this time, brush fires, house fires, car accidents, rescues, medical assists, mutual aid with other departments, and many other tasks led him into contact with many of the residents and travelers in the community. Annual meetings, parades, fundraisers, and other events also made him a familiar face to many. His leadership helped further develop the fire department in areas of training, grant writing, and helped expand the fire department.
Delbert loved his family. His devotion to his wife was never diminished and he missed her deeply after her passing. His interests were broad and he adapted them to support the interests of his children. He was definitely an engineer at heart. We learned that we could watch air shows from the roof of our house in Wichita and that airplanes were fascinating. However, as our interests grew, he took us to music lessons, became interested in raising monarch caterpillars in jars, and joined a fire department. He didn’t press his children in any direction but to succeed.
Delbert was preceded in death by his mother and father, wife Orilla Murray, daughter Cynthia Murray, sister and husband, Wilma and Warren Keller, brother and wife, Charles and Joyce Murray.
He is survived by two brothers: Earnest (Judy) Murray and Norman (Linda) Murray; seven nieces and nephews; three children: Norman (Sheila) Murray, Orilla (Michael) Crider, and Delbert (Sherri) Murray; six grand children: Dwight (Audre) Murray, Nathaniel (Suzy) Murray, James Crider, Milton Crider, Abigail Crider, Calli Murray, and Cooper Murray, and three great-grandchildren: Isaac Murray, Cassidy and Everly Murray.
Funeral services for Delbert will be Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 2:00 P.M. in the Clinkingbeard Chapel, Ava, MO with burial following at the Mt. Zion Cemetery with Honors performed by the Ava Rural and surrounding Fire Depts. Visitation will be prior to the service Saturday from 12:30 P.M. to service time. Officiating will be Dr. Noel Scott and Rev. Ken Thompson. Family requests memorials to Gideon’s, Ava Rural Fire Dept. or Mt. Zion Cemetery.
