John James Walsh passed away on Aug. 15, 2023, at age 91, following months of declining health.
Walsh was born in 1932 to Charles Walsh and Beatrice (nee Murphy). He was raised in the Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia and graduated from Roman Catholic High School in 1951. When the war broke out in Korea, John served in the U.S. Army and was deployed to the Eighth Army 430th Combat Engineers.
After the war, Walsh returned to his true love, Patricia Anne Andris, and the two married in 1956 and moved to the Germantown section of Philadelphia to raise their family. While working full-time and helping raise seven children, John attended La Salle College in the evenings and graduated with a B.S. in business. John was a senior sales engineer for many years for various firms including the storied American Pulley Company. He was also an active member of St. Francis of Assisi parish, where he served as a cantor at Sunday Masses.
Walsh's devotion to his wife, Pat, was felt by anyone in their presence. He loved and enjoyed time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was their fiercest and most ardent supporter.
Walsh was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Charles (the late Kay) and Joseph (Mary), and his sister Catherine Costello (the late David). He is survived by his wife Pat, his children Mary Pat (William McGinly), John (Jeanne), Bridget, Paul (Michele), Daniel (close friend Susan Seroskie), Patrick (Kathleen), and Anne, as well as his grandchildren Paul (Sara), John (Patricia DiMaria), Patrick (Jill), Aidan, Annabelle (Charlotte Fauchon), Coen and Sam, step-granddaughters Caitlin Straub (Frederick), Sally Kenyon (Mike McGrane), Heather McAndrews and Shaina McAndrews, great-granddaughters Zoe Patricia, Ophelia Kea, Goldie-Anne Starla and Adeline Mae and step-great grandsons Freddie and James. John was also survived by dear cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Friends and family are invited to celebrate Walsh's life at a visitation from 8 to 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 26, at St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Flourtown, PA, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. The interment will be private. Donations in his name can be made to Saint Jude Children’s Hospital, stjude.org, Veterans Tunnel to Towers Foundation, t2t.org; Papermill Food Hub, papermillfoodhub.com.
