1919
Murray
2013
Murray Kauffman
November 19, 1919 — March 23, 2013
Murray E. Kauffman, a resident of Guilford Township, passed away on Saturday, March 23, 2013 at The Village of Laurel Run, in Fayetteville, PA.
Murray was born November 19, 1919 in Chambersburg. The son of the late M. Archie Kauffman and Margaret Hafer-Kauffman, Murray had a brother, Robert J. Kauffman, and a sister, Dorothy Kauffman, who have also passed.
Reared in Stoufferstown, Murray graduated from the Chambersburg Area Senior High School in 1938. He then enlisted in U.S. Army during World War II and was honorably discharged after four years of military service to his nation.
Murray married Mary Jane Feightner on November 1, 1942. He then attended two years of studies at the University of Rochester in New York. It was in Rochester in 1945 when their first son, Eric Robert Kauffman, was born. The family moved to Pennsylvania where Murray completed two years of college at Kutztown and then worked at Reading Plating and Polishing. The family moved to Chambersburg in 1948 where their second son, Gregory Joseph Kauffman, was born that same year. Murray and Mary Jane loved Chambersburg and made it their home for the remainder of their lives.
In 1950, Murray established a metal finishing shop on Wayne Avenue in Chambersburg. The next year, Murray and Mary Jane built a home at 1351 Stanley Avenue where they would reside for more than fifty years. Their third son, Thomas Murray Kauffman was born in 1952. Murray built another metal finishing shop at 2110 Lincoln Way East in the late 1950’s after his first shop was destroyed by a lightning strike. He would own and operate his second shop for more than forty years.
Active in his community, Murray participated on the Guilford Township School Board for six years; the Guilford Township PTA for fourteen years; was Scoutmaster of Chambersburg Troop 124 for six years; was on the YMCA program committee for four years; the Toy Mission advisory board for four years; and the Franklin County Bicentennial Commission for four years. Murray also was a long-time member of American Legion Post 46, Amvets Post 224, and B.P.O. Elks # 600.
A lover of local history, Murray and his peers helped to preserve and refurbish historic structures in Chambersburg including the Old 1818 Jail, the John Brown House, and The Patrick Gass House.
A researcher, writer and presenter of local history, Murray was an active member of the Conococheague Chapter - Sons of the American Revolution, Kittochtinny Historical Society, and formed and was the first president of Franklin County Heritage. He also actively supported other regional historical organizations. Murray loved Chambersburg and the surrounding area and often said he couldn’t imagine a nicer place to live.
In 1963, Murray portrayed Abraham Lincoln giving the Gettysburg Address at the centennial celebration of the historic speech in Gettysburg, PA. At the rededication of the John Brown House on May 2nd, 2009, Chambersburg mayor Pete Lagiovane recognized Murray (then 90 years old) as, “the Godfather of historic preservation in Chambersburg” for which Murray received a standing ovation. Throughout his active life, Murray earned respect and recognition by community and historic organizations for his accomplishments and contributions.
Murray’s pastimes included: writing, woodcarving; drawing; painting; traveling; genealogy; archaeology; and giving speeches about local history. He also collected historical artifacts and photos. For fifteen years he researched, and subsequently published, a detailed hand-drawn map of the 23 forts that were located in Franklin County between 1750 and 1765.
Murray was preceded in death by his wife of fifty-two years, Mary Jane, who passed in 1994. His eldest son, Eric, passed away in 1982. He is survived by his sons Dr. Gregory J. Kauffman of Norristown, PA and Thomas M. Kauffman of York Springs, PA. He also is survived by his niece Susan Blackmon-Kauffman; daughter-in-law Lois Brechbiel-Kauffman; grandchildren Heather Kauffman-Satterfield, Bryce Kauffman, Mekia Truclaye Kauffman; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 1:00 PM in the Chapel of Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 333 Falling Spring Rd., Chambersburg, PA; where Fr. Patrick Pierce will officiate and friends are invited to speak. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the funeral home. Interment will follow the service in Lincoln Cemetery. Online condolences may be offered on his Book of Memories page at www.geiselfuneralhome.com
Memorial donations can be made to the Franklin County Historical Society at 175 E King St, Chambersburg, PA 17201.
Murray was born November 19, 1919 in Chambersburg. The son of the late M. Archie Kauffman and Margaret Hafer-Kauffman, Murray had a brother, Robert J. Kauffman, and a sister, Dorothy Kauffman, who have also passed.
Reared in Stoufferstown, Murray graduated from the Chambersburg Area Senior High School in 1938. He then enlisted in U.S. Army during World War II and was honorably discharged after four years of military service to his nation.
Murray married Mary Jane Feightner on November 1, 1942. He then attended two years of studies at the University of Rochester in New York. It was in Rochester in 1945 when their first son, Eric Robert Kauffman, was born. The family moved to Pennsylvania where Murray completed two years of college at Kutztown and then worked at Reading Plating and Polishing. The family moved to Chambersburg in 1948 where their second son, Gregory Joseph Kauffman, was born that same year. Murray and Mary Jane loved Chambersburg and made it their home for the remainder of their lives.
In 1950, Murray established a metal finishing shop on Wayne Avenue in Chambersburg. The next year, Murray and Mary Jane built a home at 1351 Stanley Avenue where they would reside for more than fifty years. Their third son, Thomas Murray Kauffman was born in 1952. Murray built another metal finishing shop at 2110 Lincoln Way East in the late 1950’s after his first shop was destroyed by a lightning strike. He would own and operate his second shop for more than forty years.
Active in his community, Murray participated on the Guilford Township School Board for six years; the Guilford Township PTA for fourteen years; was Scoutmaster of Chambersburg Troop 124 for six years; was on the YMCA program committee for four years; the Toy Mission advisory board for four years; and the Franklin County Bicentennial Commission for four years. Murray also was a long-time member of American Legion Post 46, Amvets Post 224, and B.P.O. Elks # 600.
A lover of local history, Murray and his peers helped to preserve and refurbish historic structures in Chambersburg including the Old 1818 Jail, the John Brown House, and The Patrick Gass House.
A researcher, writer and presenter of local history, Murray was an active member of the Conococheague Chapter - Sons of the American Revolution, Kittochtinny Historical Society, and formed and was the first president of Franklin County Heritage. He also actively supported other regional historical organizations. Murray loved Chambersburg and the surrounding area and often said he couldn’t imagine a nicer place to live.
In 1963, Murray portrayed Abraham Lincoln giving the Gettysburg Address at the centennial celebration of the historic speech in Gettysburg, PA. At the rededication of the John Brown House on May 2nd, 2009, Chambersburg mayor Pete Lagiovane recognized Murray (then 90 years old) as, “the Godfather of historic preservation in Chambersburg” for which Murray received a standing ovation. Throughout his active life, Murray earned respect and recognition by community and historic organizations for his accomplishments and contributions.
Murray’s pastimes included: writing, woodcarving; drawing; painting; traveling; genealogy; archaeology; and giving speeches about local history. He also collected historical artifacts and photos. For fifteen years he researched, and subsequently published, a detailed hand-drawn map of the 23 forts that were located in Franklin County between 1750 and 1765.
Murray was preceded in death by his wife of fifty-two years, Mary Jane, who passed in 1994. His eldest son, Eric, passed away in 1982. He is survived by his sons Dr. Gregory J. Kauffman of Norristown, PA and Thomas M. Kauffman of York Springs, PA. He also is survived by his niece Susan Blackmon-Kauffman; daughter-in-law Lois Brechbiel-Kauffman; grandchildren Heather Kauffman-Satterfield, Bryce Kauffman, Mekia Truclaye Kauffman; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 1:00 PM in the Chapel of Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 333 Falling Spring Rd., Chambersburg, PA; where Fr. Patrick Pierce will officiate and friends are invited to speak. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the funeral home. Interment will follow the service in Lincoln Cemetery. Online condolences may be offered on his Book of Memories page at www.geiselfuneralhome.com
Memorial donations can be made to the Franklin County Historical Society at 175 E King St, Chambersburg, PA 17201.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Murray Kauffman, please visit our flower store.
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