Marcella Murphy

Marcella (Trumbo) Murphy, 91, of Grant, formerly of San Diego, passed away in her sleep on Saturday, February 20, 2021, at her daughter’s house in Grant.  Marcella was born in Brookings, South Dakota on June 22, 1929 to Robert and Esther Trumbo.

She spent her childhood years growing up in Watertown, S.D. where her father worked for the railroad. In 1954 she married James Murphy from Florence, S.D. at Norfolk, Va. where he was stationed in the US Navy. They were transferred to San Diego, Calif. in 1957 where she often managed her home and children alone due to frequent Navy deployments. Later she was employed by the Navy at North Island Naval Air Station as a data technician until 1992 retiring after 27 years. 

She was involved in many activities, holding several offices in her various organizations and spent hours doing genealogy research. Her love of travel took her many times to Ireland, England, Scotland and Europe. 

She was able to get James to join her on some cruises even after he retired from the Navy and stating he was never going to sea again.

 In the later years, gardening and puzzle books were her vices and she would visit Grant every summer to help her daughter destroy the yard weeds. 

She welcomed her first grandchild in 1986 with 3 more to follow after that and her first great-granddaughter in 2016. 

Marcella was preceded in death by her husband, James; her parents; a sister, Dorothy Bonk; and her daughter, Robin Davis. 

She is survived by her son, James Murphy of San Diego; daughter Pamela Murphy, CAPT(R) and son-in-law Mark Cunningham of Grant; 4 grandchildren: Sean and Bridgette Murphy of San Diego; Joshua (Eva) Cunningham, Logan (Lindsey) Cunningham of Grant and great-grandchildren Ailyn and Liam Cunningham of Grant. 

She will be interred with her husband at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego.