Lt. Col. Alvin Curtis Murray III, age 74, died at his home on June 11th with his family at his bedside.
Col. Murray is survived by his wife of 53 years, Frances Stopfer Murray, and two children, Christy Bray (Scott of Little Rock) and Leslie Rice (Ryan of Phoenix, AZ), five grandchildren, Jennifer and Elizabeth Bray, and Samuel, Riley, and Maya Rice, and three siblings Stephen Murray (Butch of Hughes, AR), Nancy Kellams (Kevin of Fayetteville, AR) and Samuel Murray (Patty of Chicago, IL).
Col. Murray grew up all across Arkansas where his parents, Mary Ellen and Dr. Alvin C. Murray Jr., served in ministry in the United Methodist Church. Col. Murray met his lifelong sweetheart (Fran Stopfer) his senior year of high school at Jonesboro High. Col. Murray attended Arkansas State University, played on the school golf team, and earned a degree in Business Administration. Following his college graduation he joined the United States Marine Corp.
Col. Murray is a veteran of the Vietnam War where he piloted Huey helicopters while earning two Distinguished Flying Cross awards and two Air Medals for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as well as a Bronze Star. Col. Murray served from coast to coast flying the OV-10 airplane including serving at the Pentagon, Headquarters Marine Reserve, Headquarters Marine Corp and he reached the highlight of his career as Commanding Officer of H&MS 36 Squadron in Okinawa, Japan. After 22 years of service Col. Murray retired from the military and pursued a career in business. In the golden years of his life he returned to his Arkansas roots and settled down in beautiful Hot Springs Village where he blessed his family with golf, tennis, humor, storytelling, cooking, wisdom and love. A celebration of life will be held at 10:30am, Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at Ruebel Funeral Home Chapel at 6313 West Markham St., Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 followed by a graveside with military honors at Edgewood Memorial Park Cemetery in North Little Rock. Memorials May be made to hopeawayfromhome.org.
Lu (Lula) Seal (Cole)
Lt. Col. Alvin Curtis Murray III, age 74, died at his home on June 11th with his family at his
bedside.
Col. Murray is survived by his wife of 53 years, Frances Stopfer Murray, and two children,
Christy Bray (Scott of Little Rock) and Leslie Rice (Ryan of Phoenix, AZ), five grandchildren,
Jennifer and Elizabeth Bray, and Samuel, Riley, and Maya Rice, and three siblings Stephen
Murray (Butch of Hughes, AR), Nancy Kellams (Kevin of Fayetteville, AR) and Samuel Murray
(Patty of Chicago, IL).
Col. Murray grew up all across Arkansas where his parents, Mary Ellen and Dr. Alvin C. Murray
Jr., served in ministry in the United Methodist Church. Col. Murray met his lifelong sweetheart
(Fran Stopfer) his senior year of high school at Jonesboro High. Col. Murray attended Arkansas
State University, played on the school golf team, and earned a degree in Business
Administration. Following his college graduation he joined the United States Marine Corp.
Col. Murray is a veteran of the Vietnam War where he piloted Huey helicopters while earning
two Distinguished Flying Cross awards and two Air Medals for heroism and extraordinary
achievement in aerial flight as well as a Bronze Star. Col. Murray served from coast to coast
flying the OV-10 airplane including serving at the Pentagon, Headquarters Marine Reserve,
Headquarters Marine Corp and he reached the highlight of his career as Commanding Officer of
H&MS 36 Squadron in Okinawa, Japan.
After 22 years of service Col. Murray retired from the military and pursued a career in business. In the golden years of his life he returned to his Arkansas roots and settled down in beautiful Hot Springs Village where he blessed his family with golf, tennis, humor, storytelling, cooking, wisdom and love.
A celebration of life will be held at 10:30am, Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at Ruebel Funeral Home Chapel at 6313 West Markham St., Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 followed by a graveside with military honors at Edgewood Memorial Park Cemetery in North Little Rock. Memorials May be made to hopeawayfromhome.org.
John Gunn
One of the nicest class mates,and his wife fran also ,such a sad thingCarey Goodman
Curt was "still water that ran deep" the close friends and family will miss this man ! Fran so very sorry for your !loss !