Charles ‘Chink’ Murphy

Charles “Chink” Murphy was born Dec. 19, 1925, in Gig Harbor to Charles and Catharine Murphy. He passed away Oct. 15 at the age of 99.

Charles lived his entire life on the Peninsula, attending a one-room schoolhouse at Midway within one mile of his home on the Murphy homestead.

He graduated from Gig Harbor High School in 1944 and by June was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Force. He was trained as an aerial gunner for a ball turret on a B-17 during World War II. The war ended before he was deployed overseas. He often recalled the morning his unit was on a train being transferred out of the country when the train stopped, and the jubilation of the town folk was intoxicating as he learned the war had ended.

After his discharge, he was hired as a part-time clerk substitute and carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in Gig Harbor. There was only one rural route and a star route out of Gig Harbor at that time. When Chink retired in 1980, there were one or two city routes and seven or eight rural routes.

Upon retirement, Chink was contacted by a friend to ask if he would consider working for the Peninsula Athletic Association. This temporary job lasted 15 years and involved baseball fields, kids' basketball, and volleyball. He participated in volleyball and sometimes filled in as a basketball official when a referee was a no-show.

He loved family and friends and did all the recreational things — camping, hiking, boating, water skiing, snow skiing, flying his Cessna 150 airplane, and bowling — but mostly he loved family time and spending time with friends. He met with a group of retirees over the years for morning coffee and breakfast, afternoon coffee, and once a month breakfast and dinner. These times were important as the friends exchanged the news of the day.

Chink was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Catherine Murphy; brothers Clarence (Lola) Murphy and Jack (Patsy) Murphy; sisters Alice (Pat) Doyle and Lauretta (Russell) White; nieces Terry Frederick and Shelley Guttormson; nephew John Murphy; and brothers-in-law Randy Squance and Garry Squance.

Chink is survived by his spouse, Alberta; brothers-in-law Fran Pinchbeck and Richard (Cindi) Squance; and numerous nieces and nephews.

At his request, no services will be held.