Joseph E. Murphy, 85, retail manager, salesman

Joseph E. Murphy, a retired furniture salesman and retail manager, died of complications from pneumonia Saturday at St. Joseph Medical Center. The Parkville resident was 85.

He retired as a retail manager at Edwards & Anthony Drug Co. at Harford Road and Putty Hill Avenue about five years ago. He earlier had sold furniture at area stores, including Little Potts on East Monument Street, E.J. Korvette, Montgomery Ward and Hecht Co.

In the 1940s, he was a Baltimore firefighter. He also owned and operated a grocery store at East Lanvale and Aisquith streets many years ago.

Born in Baltimore and raised on Harford Avenue, he was a graduate of St. Paul Parochial School at Caroline and Oliver streets.

As a young man, he played first base for the Apaches, a local sandlot team.

He was an Army veteran of World War II and a member of the Parkville American Legion post and St. John's Tenth Ward Club.

A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 9 a.m. today at St. Ursula Roman Catholic Church, 8801 Harford Road, where Mr. Murphy was a member.

Survivors include two grandchildren, Dennis Cain of Towson and Denise Aumiller of Westminster; four great-grandchildren; and his companion, Katherine Zipp of Parkville.

His wife of 55 years, the former Marian K. Gaitley, died in 1994. His daughter, Joan Cain, died in 2001.