MURRAY, Herbert Randolph Murray

Passed away peacefully with his family by his side at the Village of Taunton Mills in Whitby, Ontario.

Herb was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, the son of William Randolph Murray and Dorothy Florence May Palmer and younger brother to Craig Murray (predeceased) and John Murray (predeceased).

Herb completed high school in Brandon, Manitoba and graduated Brandon College (now Brandon University) with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1959.

Herb was active in the Canadian Military Reserve.  He joined the reserves at the age of 16 (1952) and was promoted to a Bombardier in 1954, and in 1955 he completed the Non-Commissioned Officer Cadet course in Dundurn, Saskatchewan. While attending university, he joined the University of Manitoba Cadet Officers Training course where he trained at the artillery school located in Shilo, Manitoba, receiving his commission in October of 1957. A major highlight of his career was in 1958 being selected as 1 of 4 artillery officers selected to be posted with 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery on the Rhine in Germany.  He loved being in the field and taking time to travel Germany.

After graduating university, Herb accepted a job teaching science and math at a local high school in Thunder Bay, Ontario.  This is where he met the love of his life, Arlene Carol(Johnston-predeceased), and they were married on April 1, 1961. Looking for a change, Herb and Arlene moved to St. Catherines, Ontario where they both worked as teachers, and where their first child Allyson was born.   In St. Catherines, Herb joined the RCEME regiment and achieved the rank of Major and was its Commanding Officer.  He resigned his commission in 1969 and received the Canadian Service Decoration and Centennial Medal for his service.

In January of 1969, Herb left teaching to join Ontario Hydro as a Training Officer, moving to Deep River, Ontario where their son Ross was born. In Deep River, Herb was responsible for hiring and training nuclear engineers for the nuclear power plants being constructed in Kincardine and Pickering.  In 1980, a company transfer to the head office in Toronto led the family to settle in Markham, Ontario. Herb changed jobs again, moving from hiring back to his true love, teaching. Herb taught nuclear theory and reliability at the Pickering Nuclear Plant and was eventually responsible for training new Licensed Operators and Shift Managers.

Herb retired from Ontario Hydro in 1993 and started his own consulting company teaching nuclear theory to staff at Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories and the Whiteshell Nuclear Facility in Manitoba. When not teaching, Herb and Arlene would travel Europe and spend their winters in Florida. An avid historian and cruciverbalist, Herb was always eager to answer questions, share facts and occasionally (and always humbly) tell stories about his adventures.

After retiring, Herb took an active role at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Markham, acting on the Board of Managers from 1989-2011 and as an Elder from 1992-2008.

Herb will be missed by his children Allyson and Ross, their respective spouses Doug and Tammy-Jo; much loved and missed by his grandchildren Cheryl (Lewis Scully), Ryan (Krista), Dylan and Alex Lawson, William, Madalyn, and Wade (Kailey) Murray, and his great-grandchildren Natalie, Issac, and Beatrice. He will be greatly missed by his nieces Debbie (Don MacDonald), Di (Murray Totland) and their children.

The family is grateful to the palliative care team in Durham Region and the staff at the Village of Taunton Mills in Whitby.

Herb touched many lives with his smile and generosity. Friends and family are invited to attend a memorial service to celebrate his life at 12pm on January 30th, 2026 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church – 143 Main Street North, Markham, Ontario. Reception to follow. Further information can be found at the Chapel Ridge Funeral Home website.

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