William J. "Bill" Murphy

Rutland – William J. “Bill” Murphy, 72, died peacefully on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, at UMass Memorial Medical Center – University Campus, Worcester. He was born in Worcester, the son of Timothy “Joe” and M. Rita (Sullivan) Murphy and grew up in the Vernon Hill neighborhood of Worcester.

Bill graduated from Worcester Vocational Technical High School and later earned an Associate’s Degree from Worcester Industrial Technical Institute. A three-sport athlete while at Voke, Bill was on the basketball team that played in the state championship game at the Boston Garden. He proudly served in the U.S. Army and was a member of the American Legion Post 0435 on Vernon Hill. Bill worked as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal service in different areas of Worcester for 35 years, a job he loved with wonderful colleagues and customers. In his leisure time Bill enjoyed weekly card games with friends and was an avid New England sports fan.

Bill will be lovingly missed and remembered by his wife of 37 years, Kathleen (Sawyer) Murphy; his son, Patrick Murphy and his wife, Tomeca of Rutland; his daughters, Meaghan Murphy-Alexander and her husband, Johnathan Alexander of Decatur, GA and Colleen Devine and her husband, Eric of Wilbraham; his sisters, Patricia Pero of Delray Beach, FL and Fayne Sullivan and her husband, David of Worcester; his grandchildren, Liam, Connor, Hannah and Sean Devine and Finley and Quinn Murphy; his cousins who he grew up with and was very close to; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to gather with Bill’s family from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, December 2, 2022, at Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. A memorial service will take place at the funeral home on Saturday, December 3 at 1:00. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the organization inspired by Britney Gengel of Rutland, Be Like Brit, 66 Pullman St., Worcester, MA 01606 https://belikebrit.org/get-involved/ . The family would like to acknowledge with appreciation the loving care and support Bill received from the ICU staff at 2Lakeside. To share a memory or offer an online condolence visit www.milesfuneralhome.com