Obituary

Mr. Walter Vernon Murray, 82, of Winston-Salem, died peacefully at home on Monday, June 20, 2022, surrounded in his last days by his family. He was born June 9, 1940, in Winston-Salem to Craig Vernon and Hazel Barnes Murray and, other than a short time in Charlotte, lived in Winston-Salem his whole life. He grew up with his younger sister and brother, Hazel Evelyn Murray and Craig Vernon Murray, Jr., in the Mayflower Apartments on Glade Street and then Roslyn Rd. in Buena Vista and had great childhood memories from both places that he cherished his whole life.He attended boarding school at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, VA for four years and credited his personal and professional successes throughout his life to Hargrave for teaching him the skills necessary to succeed. After Hargrave, he attended East Carolina and Wake Forest, where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He maintained an association with the fraternity and many of his fraternity brothers for the rest of his life. Like so many Wake Forest men, while dating at Salem College he met a pretty brown-eyed girl named Martha Ann Williams from Washington, NC that would soon become his wife and lifelong best friend.After school, Walt, as he was known to friends, started his professional career at Atlas Supply Company, a plumbing products wholesale distributor based in Winston-Salem, where his father also worked. In 1965 he and his dad, Craig Vernon Murray, decided to open their own plumbing supply house, Murray Supply Company, in Charlotte, NC. In 1970, a second location was opened in Winston-Salem and the home office came back home to Winston-Salem. He was a well-respected businessman throughout the industry. He always said the business was like a child: you birthed it and nurtured it in the early years, struggled with the growing pains, then enjoyed watching the fruits of your labors as it grew, flourished, and matured. His brother Craig, and his children Charlie, David, and Beth all followed him into the business. It was a family business, but not just to the Murray family. Many associates spent their entire careers with the company and were part of the Murray Supply family.Walt had many loves in his life, but the greatest was his family, especially his wife Martha Ann. They got to spend almost sixty years together and he adored her and was devoted to her. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren, probably more so with the grandkids! He liked to say that if he had known how much fun they'd be, they would have had them first. He never missed a game, recital, or performance. The Murray family vacations were always the highlight of the year for everyone, especially the after-dinner games where his good nature and sense of humor made everyone a winner.One of his other great loves was golf and he was a fierce competitor up until he couldn't play in his last few years. He carried a low handicap at Forsyth Country Club and regularly shot his age with his buddies in the gangsome. When he couldn't play golf any more, he took up croquet at Arbor Acres and made great friends playing there. He also loved to travel and he and Martha Ann saw a good portion of the world. They especially loved European river cruises and their favorite part was meeting and making new friends from around the world. They spent many winters with their "Florida Friends" at the Island Beach Club in Sanibel, Florida. All of his "new friends" at Arbor Acres were special to him as well. It never took him long to meet people and make friends. Many years ago, after much effort, Martha Ann talked him into taking ballroom dancing lessons and he found a new passion. They loved dancing on the cruises, with friends in dance clubs and most especially, just the two of them at home or on the beach. One of his last wishes was to have one more dance with her.Walt will be remembered for his warm and special sense of humor and his ability to connect with people. Even as his physical condition began to deteriorate in the last few years, he could still make people feel special and leave them with a smile on their face. We will all miss him.Left to cherish his memory of all their good times together are his wife, Martha Ann; his children Charlie (Susan), David (Kathy), and Beth; grandchildren Rebecca, Sam, David, Stephen, and Parker; and sister Hazel.There will be a visitation Saturday, June 25 from 2 to 4 at Salem Funeral Services 2951 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem. A private memorial service for the family will be held prior to the visitation.In lieu of flowers, Walt requested that donations be made to Hargrave Military Academy, 200 Military Drive, Chatham, VA 24531, a place that meant so much to him.