John Allen Murphy, age 89, passed away on January 21, 2018, at Myrtle Beach Manor, with family by his side.

Born in Washington, DC, John was the son of two Irish immigrants, the late Joseph J. and Julia Lee Murphy. His mother died when he was nine years old, and he was raised by relatives in Westchester, NY, where he once caddied for Babe Ruth. John was educated in the District of Columbia and the Bronx, NY, school systems. It was in the DC school system that he met his life-long best friend, Edward Healy.

A proud World War II veteran, John served in theh U.S. Navy on the USS Oregon City, as a Gunner's Mate and Frogman. After the war, he returned to the DC area where he went into the night club business and ran the Gold Key Club. He married his childhood friend Martha Gill in 1947. He was 19 and she was 17. Their love story lasted 70 years, and they had four children.

In 1951, John joined the Metropolitan Police Department and was thrust into the world's spotlight on March 1, 1954, when Puerto Rican Nationalists shot up the US House of Representatives, wounding seven Congressmen. He responded to the radio call and captured Lolita LeBron, the ringleader. The picture of him restraining her was on the front page of every newspaper in the world. During his career, John moved from uniform patrol to Homicide detective and retired from there.

John went on to help build Tantallon Country Club, the first of it's kind in the Fort Washington, MD, area. He loved golf and was a regular at Oxon Run, Robin Dale, and was club champion at Henson Creek. His eight holes in one (one left handed) were a source of pride. One of his favorite memories was a trip to Ireland in 1996 with his son, Patrick, and friends, where they traversed the local pubs and played golf for a week.

John returned to the night club business, and managed The Stardust Inn in Waldorf, MD, during the slot machine era. When Maryland outlawed the slots, he joined the Southern Maryland Electric Co-op in Public Relations, Easements and Land Purchases, and retired after 21 years. John and Martha moved to Sea Trail in Sunset Beach, NC, in 1992, where they enjoyed the country club life.

Ever the sports enthusiast, John coached little league football and baseball teams. He loved helping young people reach their sports potential. John served as a non-faculty volunteer Coach and Athletic Trainer for 28 years at Oxon Hill High School, Oxon Hill, MD, and for nine years at West Brunswick High School in Shallotte, NC.

John was a Charter Member of the World War II Memorial Society and was proud and humbled to have been chosen to participate in an Honor Flight from Myrtle Beach to the Memorial in Washington, DC. He was a proud member of the Association of Retired Police, Pine Echo Bowman, Oxon Hill, MD, Calabash American Legion, Calabash Elks, Knights of Columbus, Sea Trail Masters Association, The Helmboldt Monday Golf Group, and former member of St. Brendan's Choir.

John enjoyed a good round of golf, a good drink, Maryland crabs, lively conversation, and the company of friends and relatives. He found relaxation in oil painting and classical music.

John is survived by his wife of 70 years, Martha Gill Murphy, of Sunset Beach, NC; son Patrick Allen Murphy (Vicki) of Mechanicsville, MD; daughters Kathleen Marie Stevenson (Andy) of La Plata, MD; Margaret (Peggy) Ann Barnett (John) of North Myrtle Beach, SC; and Megan Marie Murphy of Calabash, NC; grandsons, Joseph Allen Murphy of Raleigh, NC, Troy Dallas Clark of Shallotte, NC; and Logan Kyle Clark of Calabash, NC; great granddaughter, Jayci Lynn Murphy-Thompson of Lillington, NC, brother Robert Murphy, sister-in-law Barbara Hood, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, Joseph J. and Julia Lee Murphy, brothers Emmett Murphy and Edward Murphy.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Brendan Catholic Church, Shallotte, NC, on Monday, January 29, 2018 at 10:00 a.m., with a Celebration of Life to follow at the Pink Palace in Sea Trail, Sunset Beach, NC.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to your favorite charity in John's name.