Joseph "Joe" Mathew Murtha

Joseph “Joe” Mathew Murtha, 89, of Logan, passed away on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

Born May 17, 1936 in Columbus Ohio, he was the son of the late Matthew  and Irene (Sater) Murtha.

Joe was a 1954 graduate of Logan High School and a 1959 graduate of Ohio University where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.  He earned a Master’s Degree in Education in 1962 from West Virginia University where he had the good fortune of meeting his future wife, Jo Ann.

He is survived by his wife Jo Ann (Swisher) of 62 years, one daughter Elizabeth (Dr. Dalton) Dove of Goldsboro, North Carolina, and three sons Matthew (Jan) of Nineveh, Indiana, Michael of Logan and Patrick (Crystal) of Rossford, Ohio; grandchildren Ashley, Will, McKenna, Cameron, Logan, Brennan, Addison, Jackson, Angus, Bennett and Zeke, seven great grandchildren, and sister Susan (Owen) Ryan of Kirkswood, Pennsylvania.

Joe spent a 40-year career in education with the Logan-Hocking Schools as a teacher and administrator, the last 14 years as Superintendent of Schools.  His proudest accomplishments were regaining North Central Accreditation for Logan High School and the construction of the Logan-Hocking Middle School.

He was awarded the 1998 Ohio Superintendent Outstanding Performance Award by the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation.  In 1999 he was inducted into both the Logan High School Alumni Hall of Fame and the Logan Education Association Educators Hall of Fame.

Joe was involved in several local scholarships serving as president of the Minnie Bowen Scholarship Fund for many years and being one of the founders of Brighten Your Future.  He was actively involved in numerous civic organizations serving as president of the Hocking County Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) for a number of years.  He also served 20 years on the Logan Recreation Commission and was involved in the development of Mingo Park. Joe was a part of Logan Rotary for 40 years serving as Treasurer for 17 years.

He was awarded the Logan-Hocking Chamber of Commerce “John Savings Citizenship Award” in 2006.

Joe was  an active member of St. John Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus.

Friends may call at Roberts Funeral Home from 5-7 PM on Sunday, February 15, 2026.  

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St John Catholic Church in Logan, Ohio on Monday, February 16, 2026 at 10:00 AM.  Burial will be at Oak Grove Cemetery in Logan, Ohio.

Donations may be made in memory of  Joe to Brighten Your Future, P.O. Box 991, Logan, Ohio 43138 or St. John Catholic Church Campus Fund, 351 N. Market Street, Logan, Ohio 43138.

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