Wesley Murray

Wesley Allen Murray died in Whittier, CA on October 16, 2025. Wes had been a resident of Whittier for 40

years.

He always began his life story by saying, “I was born at a very early age.” He was born in Hamilton, Ohio on

March 23, 1940 to Flora (Motts) and Allen Murray. He grew up in Rochester, NY and graduated from Monroe

High School. Following high school he attended Heidelberg College in Tiffin, OH and received a BA degree in

Psychology and Sociology.

Following college he worked briefly as a YMCA Boys Director before enlisting in the Air Force. He served for 5

½ years, including 6 months flying combat missions over Vietnam. He was a B-52 navigator/bombardier.

Following his military service he attended graduate school at the University of Pennsylvia in Philadelphia

studying Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning. After graduation he worked as an area planner for the

City of Philadelphia Planning Department. His boss and former professor was Edmund Bacon who a noted

urban planner and Kevin Bacon’s father. Over the years he has worked as an urban planner, landscape

designer or project manager for a number of firms. He also taught for five years in the Landscape

Architecture Department of the University of Oregon in Eugene. Prior to retirement he worked in the

telecomminication industry working on planning and permitting as systems were being built out.

As for retirement, one of his favorite comments was, “I find I’m busier now than when I worked full time.”

Service was very important to him. For the Whittier First United Methodist Church he served on several

committees and performed odd jobs as needed. For the City of Whittier he served on many boards and

commissions. He could be found at the Uptown Library every Wednesday morning at the Veterans’ Resource

Center or staffing resource tables periodically. He was a member of Whittier Host Lions Club attending

meetings and could be seen driving around the area picking up used glasses for their Sight and Hearing

Foundation or organizing a blood donor day at the club. He volunteered at the PIH Blood Donor Center until

it closed. His records show that he began donating blood in college and throughout his life time had donated

over 43 gallons, most recently at City of Hope in Duarte. He was also involved in Habitat for Humanity and

was proud to have served on the Jimmy Carter Build Project in Los Angeles in 2007.

A favorite hobby was woodworking. He made a variety of items but he especially enjoyed making little toy

cars. He would keep a box of them in his car to give to children (and grown-ups) whom he met in the

community. His larger toy projects were donated to charities for their silent auctions at fundraisers.

He was a serious reader and collected books on a variety of topics but especially liked history or mystery

books.

He is survived by his wife of almost 63 years: Rita; sons: Christopher (Karla) Murray and Timothy Murray;

grandson: Declan Murray; sister, Thomasin (Alan) Pierce. His brother, Michael Murray, preceeded him in

death.

A memorial services will be held on November 15 at Whittier First United Methodist Church, 13222 Bailey

Street. Whittier, CA 90601 at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers consider making a memorial donation to the Whittier First United Methodist Church,

Whittier Host Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation, Whittier Public Library Foundation for the Veterans

Resource Center, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles or your favorite charity. You might want to

make a donation or blood donation in his memory to City of Hope.