Passed away peacefully on Sunday December 4th, in his 93rd year with family at his side at Chartwell Regency Port Credit. Born November 6th 1930 in Toronto, Ontario. He was predeceased by his loving wife, Myra Florence, who passed away in 2014.

Arthur was the 3rd child of his parents, George Murdoch and Lizzie (Clough), predeceased by his brother Rupert Murdoch and sister Betty Horning.

Arthur grew up in the Junction Triangle in West Toronto and moved to Rathnelly Ave in the Annex, where he attended Brown Public School and Northern Vocational School. He spoke fondly of his summer employment on the CNR dining cars from 1946 until 1954 interrupted only in the summer of 1950 when he worked for Avro Air. He decided to forsake an engineering degree for an Arts Degree at Victoria College, University of Toronto. Graduating in 1954 with a major in History, he walked down University Ave after his graduation ceremony to the Ontario Government employment office and was offered a job the same day at the Archives of Ontario. He was the second employee hired in this new Department and would eventually become the (Acting)Archivist of Ontario, serving a distinguished 28 years for the province. Notably, after he assisted the author of Murdoch Mysteries with her initial research in the Attorney General’s archives, the author chose to name the main character after his middle and last name.

Arthur was an avid photographer starting with an initial purchase of a Kodak Brownie camera in high school. The camera accompanied him on his many trips on the dining car runs across Canada and photography became a passion for him. He later upgraded his photography equipment to include a self built, fully operational dark room to print his photographs. He took his first of numerous trips to England, Scotland and Wales in 1958 and his love of visiting the British Isles spanned over five decades where he took many photographs of both countrysides and ancient buildings. Some of these pictures found their way into photo competitions with both the Toronto Camera Club and Focal Forums where he was awarded the highest Gold ranking on several occasions.

Early into retirement, Arthur and Myra moved to Elora, Ontario. He quickly combined his love for photography and history by completing the first photographic inventory of historical homes for the Town of Elora and Elora LACAC in 1994. His next project was a documented Murdoch Family history published in 1999 with a further volume published in 2010. Both were a compilation of family history including photographs, commentary and family documents sourced on his various trips to England and Scotland which traced the family tree back to 1660.

Greatly loved, he leaves behind his sons Andrew and David, their wives Sheila and Kimberly and grandchildren Heather, Andrea, Ian, Emma and Natalie. Sincere appreciation is extended to the staff of Trillium Hospital, Mississauga for their dedicated attention to Arthur’s health over the last few months. Also, thank you and heartfelt appreciation to the staff and residents of Chartwell Regency for their care and friendship over the past 5 years and exceptional care over his final week. Donations in memory of Arthur may be made to a charity of one’s choice or Trillium Health Centre or Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. Private interment will be held at Mount Pleasant Cemetery.