Joseph "Joe" Henry Murphy, 79, of Severna Park, Maryland, passed away peacefully on June 14, 2022, in his home. He had battled metastatic melanoma for the last 5 months.

He was born on December 10, 1942 in Cincinnati and attended Roger Bacon High School and the University of Cincinnati. He continued on to Rutgers University (Camden, N.J.) where he received his Law Degree. He was a Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran. He met his future wife, Jean O'Connor, while in the Marine Corps. His career as an attorney with the Department of Veterans Affairs began in a Regional Office in Helena, Mont. Later, he retired from the Central Office in Washington with 30 years of government service. In retirement, he drove the Annapolis Tour Trolley.

Music brought great joy to his life. He sang with Encore, and also for residents of nursing homes with Jubilate. He belonged to the church choir at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Edgewater, and more recently at St. John the Evangelist, Severna Park. He loved to travel. And whether he was visiting relatives, on a Road Scholar trip or on a cruise, he was always planning the next adventure before the current one was over. He also enjoyed watching sports, especially when it involved his daughters, grandkids or the Washington Nationals. Above all things he loved family celebrations.

He leaves behind his wife Jean of nearly 54 years; three daughters, Michelle Doerr (Chuck) of Edgewater, MD, Maria Yeager (Ray) of Annapolis, MD, and Melissa Kenshalo (Dan) of North Tustin, CA. He is also survived by his grandchildren Joey Murphy, Charlie Doerr, Fiona Kenshalo and Abby Yeager; sisters Colleen Wedgewood of Cincinnati OH, Murphy Stevens (Al) of Sarasota FL, Bobbie Bohmer (Dave) of Sarasota, FL; brother- in- law Neil Hammersmith of Cincinnati OH; sisters-in- law, Eileen O'Connor of Bethesda, MD and Martha O'Connor of Rockville, MD. He also leaves behind nephews, nieces and a host of friends. He is predeceased by his sister, Margaret Hammersmith.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at Barranco Severna Park Funeral Home & Cremation Care, P.A. 495 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park, MD, 21146. A mass of Christian Burial will be held the following day, Thursday, June 23, 2022, at 10:00 am at St John the Evangelist Catholic Church 689 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park, MD 21146. The burial will follow at Crownsville Veterans Cemetery, 1122 Sunrise Beach Road Crownsville, MD 21032.

A livestream video of the funeral mass will be available for those unable to attend in person at the following link: https://boxcast.tv/view/in-loving-memory-of-joe-murphy-odss80fy7rzznge1sdp7

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to Hospice of the Chesapeake 90 Ritchie Highway, Pasadena, MD 21122 or https://www.hospicechesapeake.org/giving/donate-now/