1923
John
2015
John A Murvay
September 17, 1923 — April 20, 2015
Mr. Murvay was born Sept. 17, 1923, in South Amherst to John and Mary Murvay (Sedor). In the 1930s, his family moved to Freedom Township in Portage County where he graduated from Freedom Township High School.
As with so many members of the Greatest Generation, Mr. Murvay followed a strong work ethic throughout his life. He worked on the construction crew to build the Ravenna Munitions and Arsenal Plant as the United States prepared to enter World War II. Mr. Murvay then went on to serve in the U.S. Army, stationed in the European Theatre during the Battle of the Bulge. A formal photograph of Mr. Murvay in his uniform sent to an aunt in Sudbury, Ontario, caught the eye of her neighbor. Upon seeing the photo of a handsome and dashing young man in his U.S. Army uniform, Margaret Paulisentz decided that a soldier in service far away from home deserved mail from the homefront. A correspondence continued throughout World War II and the couple met for the first time after the war’s end . The both agreed “the chemistry was right” and they were married in Sudbury November 13, 1946.
From there, the new Mr. and Mrs. Murvay set about making a home for the next greatest generation – the baby boomers. They had two daughters, Margaret and Juliana. Life long residents of Portage and then Mahoning Counties, the Murvays operated the Dew Drop Inn in Freedom Township during the 1950s and early 1960s and the Anchor Inn and Lakeview Motel in Berlin Center from the 1960s and into the mid 1980s. In addition to running the Anchor Inn at night and weekends, Mr. Murvay also worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. as a carpenter at the Goodyear Blimp airdock and then the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers where he was employed in the maintance department at the Berlin Lake Reservoir.
The son of Hungarian immigrants, Mr. Murvay retained his cultural roots in speaking Hungarian, which served him well as his army unit, the 87th Infantry Division, made its way through Central Europe. Mr. and Mrs. Murvay were members of the Hungarian-American Club of Akron. Mr. Murvay also was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, and the Elks Club.
Mr. Murvay lived to the age of 91, and although the years brought physical limitations, he kept a sharp mind due in part to his interest in current news events; he read daily newspapers, monthly news magazines and also followed news broadcasts on television. A faithful viewer of “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune,” he was quick with the answers. Mr. Murvay made friends with fellow residents and staff of the Gardens of the Western Reserve, where he lived for almost three years.
Mr. Murvay is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and Douglas Garmon of Kent , daughter Juliana Dennis of Norwell, Mass.; granddaughter, Emilee Leahy and her husband David Leahy of Norwell, Mass.; granddaughter Lara Dennis and her husband Zac Altenburger of Rockland, Mass; great-grandchildren, Nicholas and Avonlea Leahy of Norwell; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret, and sisters Violet DeLuca and Mary Kincses.
Calling hours will be held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Shorts-Spicer-Crislip Funeral Home Ravenna Chapel, 141 North Meridian St., Ravenna. Services will follow at the funeral home with the Rev. David Merzweiler officiating. A private family burial will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Ravenna.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady of the Lakes Parish Church in Lake Milton.
The family would like to thank the Gardens of Western Reserve in Streetsboro, Western Reserve Senior Care, Robinson Memorial Hospital and Dr. Emmanuel Yanelli for the care and kindness extended to both Mr. and Mrs. Murvay, and Compassionate Care Hospice for the care provided for Mr. Murvay and the support for his family during this past months.
As with so many members of the Greatest Generation, Mr. Murvay followed a strong work ethic throughout his life. He worked on the construction crew to build the Ravenna Munitions and Arsenal Plant as the United States prepared to enter World War II. Mr. Murvay then went on to serve in the U.S. Army, stationed in the European Theatre during the Battle of the Bulge. A formal photograph of Mr. Murvay in his uniform sent to an aunt in Sudbury, Ontario, caught the eye of her neighbor. Upon seeing the photo of a handsome and dashing young man in his U.S. Army uniform, Margaret Paulisentz decided that a soldier in service far away from home deserved mail from the homefront. A correspondence continued throughout World War II and the couple met for the first time after the war’s end . The both agreed “the chemistry was right” and they were married in Sudbury November 13, 1946.
From there, the new Mr. and Mrs. Murvay set about making a home for the next greatest generation – the baby boomers. They had two daughters, Margaret and Juliana. Life long residents of Portage and then Mahoning Counties, the Murvays operated the Dew Drop Inn in Freedom Township during the 1950s and early 1960s and the Anchor Inn and Lakeview Motel in Berlin Center from the 1960s and into the mid 1980s. In addition to running the Anchor Inn at night and weekends, Mr. Murvay also worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. as a carpenter at the Goodyear Blimp airdock and then the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers where he was employed in the maintance department at the Berlin Lake Reservoir.
The son of Hungarian immigrants, Mr. Murvay retained his cultural roots in speaking Hungarian, which served him well as his army unit, the 87th Infantry Division, made its way through Central Europe. Mr. and Mrs. Murvay were members of the Hungarian-American Club of Akron. Mr. Murvay also was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, and the Elks Club.
Mr. Murvay lived to the age of 91, and although the years brought physical limitations, he kept a sharp mind due in part to his interest in current news events; he read daily newspapers, monthly news magazines and also followed news broadcasts on television. A faithful viewer of “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune,” he was quick with the answers. Mr. Murvay made friends with fellow residents and staff of the Gardens of the Western Reserve, where he lived for almost three years.
Mr. Murvay is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and Douglas Garmon of Kent , daughter Juliana Dennis of Norwell, Mass.; granddaughter, Emilee Leahy and her husband David Leahy of Norwell, Mass.; granddaughter Lara Dennis and her husband Zac Altenburger of Rockland, Mass; great-grandchildren, Nicholas and Avonlea Leahy of Norwell; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret, and sisters Violet DeLuca and Mary Kincses.
Calling hours will be held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Shorts-Spicer-Crislip Funeral Home Ravenna Chapel, 141 North Meridian St., Ravenna. Services will follow at the funeral home with the Rev. David Merzweiler officiating. A private family burial will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Ravenna.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady of the Lakes Parish Church in Lake Milton.
The family would like to thank the Gardens of Western Reserve in Streetsboro, Western Reserve Senior Care, Robinson Memorial Hospital and Dr. Emmanuel Yanelli for the care and kindness extended to both Mr. and Mrs. Murvay, and Compassionate Care Hospice for the care provided for Mr. Murvay and the support for his family during this past months.
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