Bruce B. Murray

Bruce B. Murray, 94, of Rochester, passed away Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023.

Bruce was born in Oberlin, OH at Oberlin Hospital (now Mercy Allen Hospital) on January 1, 1929 to the late Russell and Lucille (Thompson) Murray and was raised on the family farm in Rochester, OH.  He graduated from Brighton High School in 1946 and later received his Bachelor’s Degree from Capital University in 1950. Bruce continued his education at Ohio State University where he met his future wife, Margaret Dalton, and they were married on February 22, 1952.  In 1952 he received his Master’s Degree, and in 1955 earned his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry.  He first worked for the DuPont Corporation in Aiken, SC and then as a College Professor at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT.  Later he worked for Argonne National Laboratory in suburban Chicago, IL, and retired in 1992 from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, WI where he had taught Chemistry.  In 1994 he and Margaret built their home on the family farm in Rochester.  He was a member of Rochester United Methodist Church and had enjoyed fishing, reading, traveling, playing golf, and watching westerns.

Surviving are his five children, David Murray of St. Louis Park, MN, Lucile “Beth” Pope of Wausau, WI, Rachel Murray Sarath and her husband, Gautam of Lincoln, NE, Russell Murray and his wife, Janet of St. Louis, MO, and Sarah Murray of Rochester, OH; seven grandchildren, Laura, Camille, Ben, Marlena, Russell, Nathaniel, and Krishna; sisters-in-law, Marion Murray and Karen Murray, and nieces and nephews Ben, Mike, Beth, and Laura (from the Murray side) and Michelle, Steven, Patty, Crystal, and Vickie (from the Dalton side).

He passed away at Elms Retirement Village in Wellington, OH, and was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret; two infant children, Bruce and Maggie; his parents, Russell and Lucille; brothers, David and Douglas; and nieces and nephew, Martha, Billy, and Debi (from the Dalton side).

Services will be held on Friday, October 6 th  at 2:00 p.m. at Rochester United Methodist Church with burial following in Evergreen Cemetery in Rochester. Friends will be received from 1:00 p.m. until the time of services at the church.