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Virgie Mae Murphy (Engelke), age 94, a long-time resident of San Antonio entered rest on August 18, 2022. Virgie was born on July 6, 1928, on the family farm in Kingsbury, Texas, to Mary (Harborth) and Oscar Engelke. She graduated from Kingsbury High School in 1945. After graduation she left the farm and moved to San Antonio to attend business school. In 1949 she married SMSgt. Mack Murphy. Together, they raised six children. During Mack’s 27-year career in the US Air Force, Virgie helped relocate their growing family to military bases around the country. Virgie set up housekeeping in Ft. Smith, AR, Austin, TX, Upper Peninsula MI, and Tampa, FL. Virgie and Mack always considered San Antonio their home base and returned permanently to Hollywood Park after Mack’s retirement in 1970. For over 20 years Virgie worked as a rural mail carrier for the US Postal Service. She was dedicated to the mission of the postal service and never missed a day of work. Virgie was a life-long member of the Baptist Church and made sure to bring her children with her to services and activities. Perhaps from growing up on a farm, Virgie was blessed with a green thumb. She planted a backyard garden for countless years where she grew an assortment of tomatoes, okra, jalapeno peppers, Brussels sprouts, and more. She fought a decades-long battle with squirrels over her pecan trees. Virgie had a large assortment of potted plants covering her backyard patio. She was always happy to share a plant cutting, including detailed instructions on foolproof rooting methods. Virgie was known to stop her car to take cuttings of plants along any street or highway. In addition to gardening, Virgie bred long-haired Dachshunds for several years. Some of her favorites she kept as pets, among those were Mr. Fluff and Chrissy. In her later years she adopted her beloved companion, Kitty Cat. Virgie was a woman of many talents. She was known for her abilities as a seamstress as she sewed much of her children’s clothing. She taught herself how to hang wallpaper and to reupholster furniture. Virgie was known for hosting enormous family Thanksgiving feasts with tables overflowing with steaming bowls of turkey with cornbread dressing along with mashed potatoes, numerous casseroles, and pecan pies. One of her most well-loved recipes was her homemade yeast bread baked in old coffee cans. As avid deer hunters, Virgie’s husband and sons kept her busy preparing delicious dinners of chicken fried venison. After her retirement from the US Postal Service, Virgie enjoyed traveling. Some of her favorite destinations were Egypt, Jerusalem and the Holy Land, Washington DC, and cruises through the Rhine River in Germany and the Panama Canal. One of her happiest achievements was building the river house on the Guadalupe River where she spent many weekends with family. Virgie is survived by her six children Mike (Betsy) Murphy, Douglas Murphy, Patricia Murphy (Frank Blackmon), Cindy Murphy (Todd Sturts), Gregory (Taunya) Murphy, Jeffrey (Tammy) Murphy, sister-in-law, Bobbie O’Neal, 9 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Virgie was preceded in death by her husband of 38 years, Mack Murphy, her parents, Oscar and Mary Engelke, her brothers, Boyce Engelke and Benny Engelke, and her sister, Violet Green. A graveside service will be held at Kingsbury Cemetery, Saturday, August 27, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. Address: 464 County Rd 232 (Prairie Lea Road) Kingsbury, TX 78638

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VIRGIE E. MURPHY

July 6, 1928 - August 18, 2022