Roger Grant McMurrin, 84, of Lebanon, formerly of Xenia, Ohio, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at his residence. He was born August 7, 1939, in Bedford, Indiana, the son of Rev. Albert Raymond and Myrtle Emma Brickley McMurrin. He is survived by his wife, Diane (Nash) McMurrin, whom he married June 10, 1967, two sons, Marc McMurrin, Orlando, FL, and Matthew McMurrin, San Antonio, TX, six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, by several nieces and nephews, and by many close friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Norma Burris, four brothers, Paul, Dwight, Nathan, and Dr. Lee McMurrin.

McMurrin started working in music at Xenia High School and later Otterbein College. In 1971, McMurrin left Ohio to become the director of music at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. McMurrin later became the director of music at Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas, and then First Presbyterian Church in Orlando, Florida. In 1992, McMurrin was invited to Kyiv, Ukraine, by Episcopal priest George McCammon to conduct Ukraine's world-class musicians in a performance of Handel's Messiah. Upon arrival in 1992, McMurrin was honored with premiering Handel's Messiah as they had never heard it, because all sacred music had been forbidden for 70 years during the Soviet Union. Upon returning to the United States, McMurrin felt God calling him and his wife to move to Ukraine. In 1993, McMurrin in his mid-fifties sold everything they owned and moved into a small three-room Soviet flat and started over. McMurrin formed the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (KSOC) from the best of the seven professional symphonies and fifty professional choirs. McMurrin depended on God to provide daily to for his family, his musicians, and poorest among them which they served. McMurrin led with grand vision. The KSOC performed a multitude of concerts in Ukraine and multiple tours to the United States, Canada, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

McMurrin and his wife established Music Mission Kiev, a 501c3 organization in the US, which was the vehicle to raise millions of dollars to serve the Ukrainian people. McMurrin established two churches in Ukraine, Church of the Holy Trinity and St. Paul's Evangelical Church, which also served widows and orphans in their distress. God used McMurrin to bring tens of thousands of people to faith in Jesus Christ using the power of the sacred musical masterpieces reaching millions of people with the gospel in their own language.

A Celebration of Roger's Life will be held at Redeemer OPC, 22 S. Fairfield Rd., Beavercreek, OH 45440, on December 21, 2023, at 9:30am. Private burial will be held by the family in Woodland Cemetery, Xenia. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Music Mission Kiev (https://www.musicmissionkiev.org/), P.O. Box 161849, Altamonte Springs, FL, 32716, info@musicmissionkiev.org in his memory. Condolences may be made to the family at www.NeeldFuneralHome.com.