Donald "Don" Murphy

Don Murphy, 88, passed away suddenly on Thursday, December 18, 2025. Don was born in Taft, Texas January 11, 1937 to Wayne “Pat” Oscar Murphy and Stella Nadene Alexander Murphy. Don’s brother Robert Wayne Murphy (born February 15, 1933) and sister Dorothy Lee Murphy Gay (born August 16, 1935) both predeceased him.

Don married Donna Lea Kingsbury (born June 17, 1940) on June 10, 1966, in Augusta, Kansas. On January 1, 1972, Delynn Rae was born and on January 23, 1974, Dayna Leigh was born. Delynn married Robin Wayne Nelson and has 2 children, Ella Marie and Ethan Wayne. Dayna married Kent Ray Tullis and has 2 children, Isaac Ashton and Olivia Grace. Isaac is married to Sarah Joy (Hobbs) and they have two children, Oliver Harris and Henry Emmett James.

Don graduated from Derby High School, Derby, Kansas in 1955. He joined the U.S. Army and was active duty from 1959 to 1961, reserve duty from 1961 to 1963 and standby duty from 1964 to 1965. He attended Wichita State University night school off and on for several years but did not earn a degree. He worked at several banks in Wichita, Kansas over the years, working up from a teller to Vice President of Operations at Central Bank & Trust until the bank merged with Kansas State Bank. After the merger, he and his family moved to Coffeyville, Kansas where he worked for 12 years at Community State Bank as Senior Vice President & Cashier.

Don graduated from the Prochnow Graduate School of Banking in Madison, Wisconsin.  He was active with the American Institute of Banking (AIB) where he attended classes, instructed classes and served as President for two years. He received the honor of AIB’s Banker of the Year award. He was Chairman of the Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce.  Other organizations he was active in included Coffeyville Medical Center Foundation Board, Coffeyville Sertoma Club, Coffeyville Men’s Chorus, First Christian Church Coffeyville Trustees. When Don and Donna retired and moved back to Wichita, they rejoined Grace Presbyterian Church where Don was active in the choir, was a trustee and Steamer Sunday School Class member. He and Donna later moved their membership to Hillside Christian Church where Don joined the choir and he and Donna joined the Seekers Sunday School Class. He also enjoyed attending his Scotch and Scripture Bible Study group as his health allowed. Don was also honored to go to Washington D.C. with the Kansas Honor Flight in 2016 and was especially proud of his picture with Bob Dole.

Don retired from banking in March 2003 and he and Donna moved back home to Wichita in September 2003. To keep busy in his retirement he had a part time job as the accountant at the Metro Baptist Church before retiring (again) in 2018 after 14 years.

Don loved to sing in the church choir as well as swim at his community pool and read on his deck.  Don deeply valued time spent with family and friends. He was dearly loved by many friends and will be remembered for his strong work ethic, generous spirit, and the lasting relationships he built throughout his life.

Memorial Service will be at 10:00 am, Monday, December 29, 2025, at Hillside Christian Church.

Memorials have been established with: Hillside Christian Church Choir, 8330 E. Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS. 67206; or Kansas Honor Flight, P. O. Box 2371, Hutchinson, KS. 67504.

Services in care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.