Obituary of James J. Murtha

James J. Murtha, age 90, died quietly in his sleep Saturday, November 6, 2004, in the Rileyville country home he so loved. He had spent summer vacations in Rileyville since his youth. Mr. Murtha was born November 15, 1913, in New York City, NY, and was the son of the late Joseph F. and the late Bertha (Doherty) Murtha. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, the former Rosemary Ziemer, in 1994. He was a retired heating and air conditioning engineer. Jim was a lifelong seeker of Truths and Knowledge. He cared deeply about human compassion, justice and equality. His interests ran the gamut from baseball as a young minor league player, to golf, bridge and square dancing in later years. His active mind pursued interests in science and nature from the Gaia Hypothesis to butterflies and Galileo. He affirmed that his atoms will continue in the circle of life and that his spirit lives on in the hearts of those who loved him. He is survived by two daughters: Carol Murtha of England and Dorothy Lee Lull of California ; four grandchildren: Erik Jensen of Illinois, Robyn Jensen of California, Jonathan Lull of California and Benjamin Lull of Oregon; and five great grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Delaware Highlands Conservancy, PO Box 218, Hawley, PA 18428.