Dorothy Caspar Murphy | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Dorothy was born April 11, 1930 in Salem, Oregon to Hilda Heyden and Nick Caspar, their second of five children.

    She graduated from Oregon State in 1952 with a BS in Home Economics. She moved to Ketchikan, Alaska and began her career as a high school home economics teacher. While in Alaska, she met her husband, US Coast Guard Officer Kenneth Ray Murphy of Wilmington, North Carolina. Ken and Dorothy were married in June of 1957. They soon had four children, including a set of twins. Dorothy stopped teaching to raise the children and to work with many volunteer organizations. As a Coast Guard wife, she moved about the country with her family every three years or so. They lived in such places as Portsmouth, Virginia; Portland, Oregon; Washington, DC; Miami, Florida; and San Francisco, California. In 1974 she was awarded Coast Guard Wife of the Year.

    When their children were grown, Ken and Dorothy began a long period of traveling. Their treks throughout the U.S. in their travel trailer were interspersed with cruises and tours around the world. In the end, they had slept in all 50 states and visited over 60 foreign countries. They finally settled in Chocowinity, North Carolina in 2003. They both loved their church, First Christian Church of Washington, and their neighborhood, Cypress Landing. During their long period of illness they were incredibly moved by the outpouring of care and support given to them by their church and community.

    After 58 years of a very happy marriage, Ken passed away last month. Dorothy is survived by their four children: Ken Jr. and wife Angela of Morehead City, NC; Kris Bertholf and husband Kevin of Roanoke, VA; Karl and wife Jamie of Rockville, MD; and Keith and wife Jennie Allen of Washington, DC; nine grandchildren; and her younger brother George Caspar and sister Margie Johnson.

    A combined memorial service will be held November 7, 2015 in Washington.

    In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Christian Church, 401 East 2nd Street, Washington, NC 27889 or the Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center, 1209 Brown Street, Washington, NC 27889.

    Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

    Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Murphy family.