Robert "Bob" Pierce Murphy Jr.

Robert “Bob” Pierce Murphy, Jr., 83, passed away peacefully surrounded by love on June 13, 2026, in Dallas, Texas following a sudden illness leaving behind a varied and rich legacy of devotion, strength and kindness. Born on March 16, 1943, in St. Louis, Missouri, he was the eldest child of Robert Pierce Murphy, Sr. and Helen Bernice Kelley. He was raised just outside of Boston in Milton, Massachusetts, graduating from Milton High School in 1961. Odd jobs that Robert held in both high school and summers home from college included working in a Boston bakery, operating a dump truck and lobster fishing.

He then attended St. Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada from 1961 to 1966, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. While at St. Mary’s he served as the starting goalie on the varsity soccer team.

Following graduation from college Robert enlisted in the Army Reserve in November 1966 for a 3-year active-duty obligation and was sent to Army intelligence school, specializing in Area Intelligence. After graduation from Army intelligence school he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 525th Military Intelligence Group and subsequently deployed to Vietnam, specifically into Ban Mi Thuot, as part of Advisory Team #33, supporting the local Montagnard Tribes in the Dak Lak Province. Robert lived and worked with the local tribal militia and their families. Robert’s unit was responsible for providing critical intelligence about enemy operations and movements to the Joint US and Vietnam Army Commanders.

During that period the 525th received 2 Meritorious Unit Commendations (MUC) for excellence during the major USA/Rep. Vietnam Campaigns. Robert received several commendations for “outstanding cooperation with local forces and for providing clear, and vital intelligence, often exposing himself.” Sergeant Robert P. Murphy Jr. actions for the period July 1967-July 1968 were further recognized by the award of a Bronze Star distinguishing himself for outstanding meritorious service. Other military medals and awards received included the Nat. Service (NSM); Vietnam Service(VSM ); Republic of Vietnam Service(RVSM); Overseas Service 2(O/S); and Good Conduct (GSM). Robert completed active service in August 1969 after a year spent teaching and training other Army intelligence officers back in Washington D.C., remaining in the Army Reserve until 1972.

Following his discharge from active duty in the Army, Robert enrolled in law school at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio for a year before enrolling at George Washington University School of Business in Washington, D.C., earning a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning and Economics.

After completing graduate school, Robert accepted a job as Deputy Executive Director at the Navajo Nation Office of Program Development in May of 1972, residing in Window Rock, Arizona. Robert then moved to Texas after taking a position as Director of Administration for the Texas Municipal Power Agency (TMPA) in December of 1974. Following six years with TMPA, Robert was hired as Vice President of Services for ENSERCH Corporation (the parent company of Lone Star Gas) in Dallas. Robert went on to have a distinguished 21-year career with ENSERCH (later TXU Corp. after they purchased ENSERCH Corp.), including a two-year stint living in Mexico City overseeing the acquisition of a Mexican natural gas company, before retiring in December of 2001. During his ENSERCH years Robert served on the Board of Directors for the Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Business Development Council.

In his retirement years, Robert volunteered extensively with Dallas United Way and Grand Prairie United Charities as well as serving on the City of Grand Prairie Planning and Zoning Commission for several years. He also assisted his neighborhood in negotiating a mineral rights lease with a natural gas exploration company.

He also enjoyed numerous travels with the love of his life, his wife Elisabeth, and, in his later years being the best ‘Bob-O’ he could be to his five grandchildren who brought him immense pride and joy.

In his free time Robert was a great cook, loved to read, watch historical documentaries, and enjoyed weekly shopping trips to his favorite stores. He also loved going out to eat at any Asian food restaurant that he could find, but especially Thai and Vietnamese. Even though he lived in Texas for more than twice as long as he lived in his hometown, Robert loved regularly going back to Boston as well as spending time on Cape Cod in the summers with his immediate and extended family, and made sure to always follow and keep track of what was going on with his beloved Boston professional sports teams.

Robert is survived in passing by his wife Elisabeth Driscoll Murphy of Grand Prairie, Texas, his daughter Megan Murphy Gayle and son-in-law Dr. George Gayle IV of Houston, son Bobby Murphy and daughter-in-law Brittany Murphy of Dallas, his grandchildren George Gayle V, Pierce Gayle, Katherine Gayle, Robert Murphy IV and Lillian Murphy, his brother Jim Murphy of Falmouth, Massachusetts, his sister Kathleen Murphy Carlton of Chatham, Massachusetts, and multiple nephews and nieces.