Obituary of William MURDOCH

William E. Murdoch, 73, passed away Thursday, December 26, 2002 at home. He was born May 28, 1929 in Washington, Indiana to Earl H. and Helen (Gordon) Murdoch. Bill graduated from Washington Catholic High School, Washington, Indiana in 1947. He went on to St. Ambrose College, Davenport, Iowa, served in the Army during the Korean War and continued with the Counter Intelligence Corps in Salzburg, Austria, where he met Maxine and married October 10, 1953. Bill earned his Masters Degree from Indiana University and taught high school history and was the varsity basketball head coach. Bill was a contracting officer for the US Department of Defense in the Audio Visual Division purchasing training films. He retired and moved to Lake Havasu in 1987.Bill loved sports but primarily basketball. The highlight of his basketball career was being a key player of the 1947 IHSAA Sectional Championship. Bill was a proud Hoosier. He touched the lives of everyone he met. We love him and we will miss his teasing, singing and the his truly unique character. He was a giant of a man with a big heart.Bill's family is especially grateful to Hospice of Havasu and all of the prayers offered up during the past three years of his ill health. A memorial celebration of Bill's life will be held for family and friends at 2:00 on Sunday, January 5th at Calvary Chapel in Lake Havasu, 1881 W. Acoma Blvd.He is survived by his loving bride of 49 years, Maxine Murdoch of Lake Havasu City; four sons, Michael Murdoch and wife Margo of Portland, Oregon, William G. Murdoch of Cedar Glenn, Calif., Steve Murdoch and wife Amy of Phoenix, Arizona, James Murdoch and wife Alice of Portland, Oregon; five daughters, Mary Hainey and husband Dan of Redlands, Calif., Margaret Avila and husband Steve of Devore, Calif., Carole Cave of Vancouver, Washington, Katherine Brush and husband Rene of Williams, Oregon, Susan Murdoch of Salem, Oregon; seventeen grandchildren, Brandy, Danielle, Laura, Paul, Jessica, Michael, Steven, Monica, Cassady, Jesse Max, Corrie Leigh, Megan, Sylvia, Jolene, Rebecca, Theresa, Kelsie and three great grandchildren, Samantha, Frankie and Brandon. Bill is also survived by his sister Margie Finn of Louisville, Kentucky and thirteen nieces and nephews.We praise God for Bill's life and his peaceful passing. He's 3's on the heavenly courts.Arrangements were made by Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home.