Roger Leonard Murphy Jr.

Roger Leonard Murphy, Jr., age 80 from Newburg, Maryland died August 4, 2020 in California, Maryland. He was born on February 29, 1940 (a leap year baby) in La Plata, Maryland to Roger Leonard and Myrtle Valerie Murphy. In addition to his parents, he was also predeceased by two of his sisters, Leonardine V. Norris and Katherine M. Boarman. He is survived by his siblings, Joseph R. Murphy (Cathy) and Benjamin T. Murphy (Peppi) of Newburg, Maryland, Mary L. Estevez (Don) of Lexington Park, Maryland, and David F. Murphy (Sarah) of Las Vegas, Nevada; and numerous family, friends, and classmates. Roger graduated from Archbishop Neale High School in 1958. During his school years, he developed an aptitude for photography and was always seen with his ‘brownie’ camera – this grew to be an avocation in his adult life where he took photos for hundreds of weddings, birthdays, church functions, anniversaries, and other special events in and around Southern Maryland and the DC area. In his travels, after taking so many pictures, if you ran into him out and about his favorite saying was, “I bet I’ve flashed you.” He began his career with Blue Cross Blue Shield in DC until he joined the U.S. Army in December 1959 with friends under the “buddy system.” He received his basic training in Ft. Jackson, South Carolina and was then transferred to Schweinfurt, Germany where he remained until the end of his tour. While in Germany, he traveled extensively and remained in touch with many he met over the years. In 1962 he returned to the States and resumed his career at Blue Cross. In 1974, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Rosslyn, Virginia employed him where he remained until his retirement in 2001. Roger’s early years were spent with his family on Mt. Victoria Road and after graduation he lived in the DC area until he returned to Charles County in 1990. He continued to travel during his lifetime and enjoyed taking family members on trips all over the U.S. His travels included Alaska, Central Europe, and New Zealand – always traveling with family and friends. He was always interested in family genealogy and hosted a number of family reunions at the family farms over the years. He could not go without meeting up with a fellow cousin around the county. He was equally welcoming to all who knew him and always had friends and family visiting and spending time with him. For many years, he hosted the reunion of his ANS High School class. He was particularly fond of his nieces and nephews whom he mentored and/or assisted whenever he could. Roger was an active member of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Issue and a member of the American Legion. Visitation on Thursday, August 20, 2020 from 9:30AM until Mass of Christian Burial at 11AM at Holy Ghost Issue Catholic Church, 15848 Rock Point Road, Newburg, Maryland 20664. Interment to follow at 12:45PM at St. Mary’s Newport Catholic Church Cemetery, 11555 St. Mary’s Church Road, Charlotte Hall, Maryland 20622. Pall Bearers: J. R. Murphy, Leonard Murphy, James Boarman, Gregory Radcliff, Tony Estevez, and Donnie Estevez. Honorary Pall Bearers: B. J. Shymansky, Ben Murphy, and Steven Norris, III. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Charles County (2505 Davis Road, Waldorf, Maryland 20603) or Hospice of St. Mary’s (PO Box 625, Leonardtown, Maryland 20650.

Roger Leonard Murphy Jr.

February 29, 1940 - August 4, 2020