Murty S. Batchu, 83, beloved husband, father, father-in-law, and grandfather, of Frisco, Texas, passed away unexpectedly on May 12, 2023. Murty was born November 24, 1939, in Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), India, to Nagaraju Batchu and Sita Batchu (née Bondada).
Orphaned at a tender four years of age, Murty persevered through a difficult, lonely childhood, fiercely determined to find light and opportunity in his life. He was the first in a large extended family to become college-educated, pursuing studies and a career in engineering. Early in his marriage match-making pursuits, he set eyes on Manikyam (Mani) Narkedamilly, eventually persuading her parents that this underdog was a good choice for their daughter, marrying on May 17, 1963 in India.
He was driven to give his three daughters, Suma, Anu, and Bindu opportunities beyond what he thought was possible in India, immigrating to the U.S. in the 1970s. He guided them in small and big ways throughout their lives, teaching them basics such as driving a car, playing a good hand in the family favorite card game Sequence, establishing good credit, and more. His biggest influence though was in providing a compass in navigating life, role-modeling: perseverance and being undeterred by hardships; an enduring optimism, always seeing the potential and possibilities in people; prioritizing and nurturing family connection and bonds; and absolutely and always leading with compassion and kindness. These virtues helped him in his most challenging days living with Parkinson’s Disease.
With Mani, he gave generously and quietly to many, funding their educational pursuits and providing a path to a brighter future. He took immense pride and found the greatest joy in family, especially his grandchildren, whether taking care of them after school or nudging them to set and achieve their goals in life. He was an explorer and adventurer at heart, an early adopter of the latest gadgets and technology, first in line to try new cuisines, and propelled to travel to foreign lands to learn about and experience other ways of life.
He is survived and deeply missed by his wife of sixty years, Manikyam Batchu; children, Suma Kolla (Rao Kolla), Anu Gupta (Sreenath Gupta), and Bindu Batchu (Ravi Yigalapati); and his six grandchildren, Kavitha (Sachein), Avani (Nihal), Teja, Meena, Siri, and Nuri, who fueled him throughout his later years of life; and numerous extended family members.
Family and friends are invited to a visitation to be held from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 Central Expwy. North, Allen, Texas, 75013.
In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in memory of Murty Batchu to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research to help find a cure to eradicate Parkinson’s Disease.