John Henry Walsh Sr.'s Obituary
WALSH, John H., 89, of Marathon, FL, formerly of North Truro and Wellesley, MA and Houston, TX passed away March 30 2012. He was born in Newton , MA on September 20, 1922, the son of the late Elizabeth (Wenning) Walsh and Valentine S. Walsh. Mr. Walsh was married for nearly sixty years to the late Ruth (Carver) Walsh of Vinalhaven, ME. He is survived by his children, daughter Ellen and husband Peter Sheil of Providence, RI; daughter Elizabeth Diaz of Pawtucket, RI; son John Walsh, Jr. and wife Renee of Houston, TX; grandchildren Matthew Roberts, Aaron Roberts and Elizabeth (Roberts) Balarezo; Lucie, Ian and Bridget Kinahan; Caitlin and Kelly Walsh and five great granddaughters. Mr. Walsh is also survived by his twin brother, Joseph W. Walsh and his wife Maryellen of Plymouth, MA. He is pre deceased by his older brother, Stephen Walsh of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
An avid saltwater fisherman, Mr. Walsh loved to surf cast for striped bass on the beaches near Highland Light, North Truro, MA or fish from one of his several motor boats in Cape Cod Bay. He taught his children how to sail and managed the maintenance of the family’s summer cottages in North Truro, often supervising family painting crews through long days of painting and scraping to keep the cottages looking their best. He and his wife retired to Florida in the 1980’s and built their retirement home in Marathon Key, but always returned to the Cape for the summers.
Mr. Walsh graduated from Massachusetts Maritime Academy with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a commission as Ensign in the US Navy. He served in the US Navy during World War II in the Asia-Pacific Theater where he attained the rank of Lieutenant while serving aboard the USS Phaon and the USS Casco; he was later promoted to the rank of Commander in the US Naval Reserve. He served as Commanding Officer of the Boston Naval Reserve during the 1960’s.
Mr. Walsh received his MBA from Babson College and his undergraduate degree from Boston University class of 1951. He was employed by the Texaco Oil Company for 37 years, retiring as General Manager, US Sales from Texaco’s corporate offices located in Houston, TX.
Funeral arrangements are planned for late May in Provincetown, MA with interment in Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery in North Truro, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. Walsh’s name to the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301
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