Robert Louis Murray ’52

Robert Louis Murray ’52, 81, died on April 11, 2012. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Lebby ’17 and Madge Pritchett Murray, of Raeford and Graham, N.C. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Marjorie Johnston Murray, 4825 Buckhorn Rd. SW, Roanoke, VA 24018-8603. He is also survived by his sons, Alex Murray ’79 (Catherine) and Craige Murray ’80 (Sonja); daughters, Martha Ball (Richard) and Emily Murray Lehr; 11 grandchildren, Christopher, Taylor, and Meredith Murray, Katherine, Rebecca, and Addison Murray, Andrew, Johnston, and Daniel Ball, and Amanda ’12 and Eric Lehr. Murray was a graduate of Davidson and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. After an internship at the University of North Carolina Hospital in Chapel Hill, he entered the U.S. Army Medical Corps and served in Berlin. Germany, with the rank of captain. He returned to Chapel Hill for a residency in radiology. In 1962 he joined the radiology practice of Drs. Peterson, Barker, and Smith, predecessor to Radiology Associates of Roanoke. He served on the medical staffs of Community Hospital of Roanoke Valley and Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He was a diplomate of the American Board of Radiology and a member of numerous professional societies and associations, including the American College of Radiology, the Radiological Society of North America, the American Roentgen Ray Society, the American Medical Association, the Medical Society of Virginia, and the Roanoke Academy of Medicine. He served as instructor in radiology at the UNC School of Medicine and as clinical assistant professor of radiology at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He was the author of several articles in medical journals. He retired in 1993 after 31 years of practice. Murray was a member and deacon of Second Presbyterian Church in Roanoke. He served on the board of directors of the Roanoke Symphony Society and the board of trustees of the Art Museum of Western Virginia having served the latter organization for three six-year terms between 1972 and 2000. He was a member of the English Speaking Union and the Roanoke Round Table. Murray had a long time interest in bonsai. He was a member and past president of the Hinoki Bonsai Club of Roanoke. He was active in the club’s educational program, frequently presenting lectures and demonstrations on the principles and art of bonsai. One of his bonsai trees was awarded a blue ribbon at the Virginia State Fair in 1995 and one received “Best in Show” award at the 2001 Carolina Bonsai Expo at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville. Several of his bonsai are now in the permanent collection of the North Carolina Arboretum. Other hobby interests included photography and collecting vintage German cameras. He and his wife were avid travelers, especially enjoying travel and attending operas and other classical music events in Europe, as well as in the U.S. Travel activities in later years were primarily enjoyed on ocean cruises.