James L. Murdock Sr.,81, of Terryville, died peacefully at his home on Wednesday February 25, 2015.
Jim was born July 31, 1933 in Bristol, CT. Son of the late Azel & Mae (Carlson) Murdock. He attended grade school in Forestville and Canton and graduated from Bristol Tech High School. He served in U.S. Air Force for eight years with time spent in Missouri, Alaska and South Carolina. He owned and operated his electrical contracting business, J. L. Murdock & Co. retiring in 1995. His hobbies were working round ups on ranches in Montana & New Mexico as it was done in the past and counting and tracking grizzly bear in the Canadian Rockies before denning for winter. He was chairman of the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church building committee for the parsonage of the church and was active on the church building committee. He retired as Major from the First Company Governor's Horse Guard in Avon and member of the Officers Club of Conn. He was a lifetime member of the AUSA " Assoc. of the U.S. Army, U.S. Horse Calvary Assoc, Fort Riley KS. He served on the Town of Plymouth Economic Commission for many years. He was a member of the Frederick Franklin Masonic Lodge in Plainville, Shriner - Sphinx Temple and also a member of the American Legion Plymouth Post #20.
He is survived by his sons, Russell Murdock and his wife Wendy of Goshen, James Murdock Jr. and his wife Gail of Harwinton, Gary Murdock and his wife Theresa of Shoreham, VT, Mark Murdock and his wife Louise of Terryville; his son-in-law, Robert Luther and his wife Deborah of Terryville; his brothers, Clarence Murdock and his wife Lois of Burlington, Erwin and his wife Jane of Farmington; his sister, Emily Bodamer and her husband Roger of Harwinton; his grandchildren, Katie, Peter, Roy, Mae, Danielle, Jeremy, Stephen, Heather and Christina. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews and his special new friend, Jill. He is predeceased by his daughter Brenda Luther and sister, Jane.
Funeral services will be held 11:00AM Wednesday March 4, 2015 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Bristol with military honors to follow. Burial in the spring will be in Forestville Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call at the Scott Funeral Home, 169 Main St., Terryville Tuesday evening from 5:00 to 8:00PM. A Masonic service will be held Tuesday evening at 7:00PM.
Memorial donations may be made to Bristol Hospital Hospice, P.O. Box 977, Bristol, CT 06011-0977