MILLSBORO - Helen (Ilona) Magyari Murray passed peacefully at her home on Friday Mar. 31, 2017.
Born Dec. 19, 1921 in Yorkville, Ohio, to Hungarian parents, Mary Bogas Magyari and Alex (Sandor) Magyari.
She was employed by the Glen L. Martin Aircraft Co, of Baltimore, at the start of WWII to weld aluminum. She also worked to promote the company's war effort and was featured in store window presentations to help generate interest for women to join the factory war effort. After the war, she moved to Millsboro with Aubrey to begin their life together. She worked as secretary for the last two elected Sussex County Coroners, Douglas Melson and the late Vollie Gray, until the position was eliminated by the state legislature. She was very active in the American Field Service foreign exchange program, and hosted exchange student Alberto Triana, from Bogota, Colombia, in 1966-67. She authored, with her husband, the book, Magyar Lace, based on the life of her mother who grew up in Hungary, and migrated to America, before WWI, to join her first husband, who had by then, established himself, in Ohio. Her first daughter, Mari, remained with her grandparents, until she could travel to join her parents, in Ohio. They were never reunited, but the family has remained in touch ever since and visited, even during the cold war. The family originated from the Transylvanian region of Hungary, now part of modern Romania.
She was preceded in death, by her husband of 62 years, Aubrey Phillips Murray. She was also preceded in passing, by her parents and stepfather Nick Bochian, also of Yorkville, Ohio; and sister, Mari Zavicsa of Crizbov, Romania.
She is survived by her son, Randy K. Murray and wife Sharyn, of Millsboro; her brother, John Magyari, of Columbus, Ohio; nieces, Cheryl Layfield (Gary), of Millsboro, Reynette Magyari, of Gahanna, Ohio, Michelle Kenworthy (Randy), of Ft. Myers, FL, Klara Suba, of Romania; nephews, W. Britt Murray (Bernice), of Georgetown, Allen Magyari, of Columbus, Ohio, John J. Magyari, of Galena, Ohio, Sandor Mozes of Brasov, Ro Mozes of Ro, Alpar Illyes , of Ro, Joseph Illyes, of Ro; and the caregivers, who enabled her to remain in her home, the last years, Lillian Taylor, Terry Cox, Charlotte Williams, Jeanette Hall, and Ernestine Tindal.
A visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m., Wednesday, Apr. 5, 2017, at the Long Neck Chapel of Melson Funeral Services, 32013 Long Neck Rd., Millsboro,
Funeral service to begin at 12 noon, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, State St., Millsboro. Father David Archibald will officiate.
Entombment will follow, at Millsboro Cemetery.
Online condolences may be sent by visiting, www.melsonfuneralservices.com