Merced Symphony co-founder has died, family says

A long-time music teacher and co-founder of the Merced Symphony has died, according to her family.

Lorraine C. Murphy, who began playing violin in the 1930s at Merced High, she died Friday. She was 93.

The former president of the Merced Symphony Association played violin with the orchestra for several decades. At the same time, she served the board of the Townsend Opera in Modesto and was a member of the Mariposa Symphony, according to her family.

The Merced Symphony was founded in 1958, according to board members.

Murphy was also active as a volunteer, her family said, as a past president of the Merced Mental Health Association and the Merced Women’s Club. She also served on the National Board of the Daughters of the King, a prayer and service association of the national Episcopal Church, as well as on the board of the Merced Theatre.

In 1964, she married the Rev. Edward E. Murphy III, rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church for 35 years and co-founder of St. Luke’s School. "Lorraine shared a committed and dedicated church ministry with her husband until his death in 2001," the family wrote in an obituary.

Late in life Lorraine married David Wenrich, also formerly of Merced, whom she knew in high school but hadn’t seen in 85 years, Murphy's family said. Wenrich died in 2015.

A memorial service is planned at 2 p.m. Nov. 11 at St. Luke’s Anglican Church, 459 W. 21st St. in Merced, followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks those who want to donate to consider giving to St. Luke’s Anglican Church or to Wounded Warrior Project, woundedwarriorproject.org/donate.

This story was originally published November 1, 2017 at 8:52 AM with the headline "Merced Symphony co-founder has died, family says."