Ruth Virginia (McFarlane) Murphy

Ruth V. (McFarlane) Murphy, 95, of Leawood, Kansas passed away Sunday, June 14, 2026 at Colonial Oaks Senior Living in Leawood, Kansas. 

Ruth was born in Burlingame, Kansas on May 10, 1931.  She was the fifth of five children of Andrew McFarlane and Frances (Kelley) McFarlane.

Ruth graduated from Burlingame High School in 1948.  She then worked for a short time at Merrill Packing in Topeka, Kansas before moving with her family to Kansas City, Kansas where she worked for the Kansas City Kansas Chamber of Commerce.  She then married and had her three children, Susan, Nancy, and Sally. 

In 1976, Ruth married Vincent Murphy and moved to San Diego, California where she was co-owner of Atlas Equipment Company, Inc. in San Diego.  Ruth was very instrumental in the growth and success of the company.

The company was sold in 1989 and Ruth and her husband moved to their farm in Spring Hill, Kansas where they resided for the next twelve years.

After retirement, Ruth and her husband traveled extensively throughout the United States, Ireland, England, and Central America. 

In 1998, they moved to Leawood, Kansas where they continued their travels until Ruth’s health prevented further travel and she was homebound.

Ruth is fondly remembered by family and friends as a woman of great determination.  She was a wonderful homemaker and had the ability to “fix anything”.  Her varied interests included cooking, drawing, painting, and reading.  She had a special place in her heart for all animals but especially her cats.  Ruth was a fine hostess who enjoyed entertaining.  She was admired by many for her sense of humor and caring nature. 

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Andrew and Frances McFarlane; her loving husband, Vincent Murphy; her sister, Dorothy Wight; her three brothers, Bill McFarlane, Philip McFarlane, and David McFarlane; and a daughter, Susan Torson Kalowich.

She is survived by two daughters, Nancy Torson of Albuquerque, NM and Sally Talley and her husband, Bob, of Sparta, GA; a step-son, Michael Murphy of St. Louis, MO; a grandson, Damon Louis of Sacramento, CA; a great-grandson, Corey Meyer; and her nieces and nephews. 

Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, June 18, 2026 at Burlingame Cemetery, Burlingame, KS.  Memorial contributions may be made to Wayside Waifs or the Federated Church of Burlingame and sent c/o Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, P.O. Box 194, Burlingame, KS 66413. Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.

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