James Edward Walsh

WALSH, James E., age 78 of Washington Township, passed away Saturday Feb. 23, 2008 at Kettering Memorial Hospital. Jim was born June 27, 1929, in Xenia, Ohio, the son of Henry Warner and Catherine McCurran Walsh. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 50 years, Mary Ann (Finn) Walsh, and his sister Mary Walsh Stenger. He is survived by his five siblings, Sr. Mary Paul (Margaret) Walsh, O.S.U, John (Nancy) Walsh, Jane (Bob) Oberschmidt, Robert (Marjorie) Walsh, and Sr. Martha Walsh, S.C., four sons and six daughters: Dr. James T. (Lesa) Walsh, Anne (Steven Buller) Walsh, Stephen (Lisa) Walsh, Patrick (Darlene) Walsh, Mary (Scott) Blonigen, Martha Walsh, Jacqueline (Tom) O'Brien, Sean (Carol) Walsh, Erin (John) Schmitz, and Coleen (Bill) Petrello. He is also survived by 24 devoted grandchildren: Caitlin Walsh; Lauren and Leslie Buller; Laura, Anne, Terese, and Erin Walsh; Danny, Kevin, and Brian Walsh; Christopher and Emily Szkrybalo and Jack Blonigen; Connor and Cormac O'Brien; Shannon, Iris, and Joshua Walsh; James and Peter Schmitz; Colin, Dominic, Kean and Aidan Petrello. Jim grew up in Xenia, Ohio, a town he loved and recalled wonderful stories about throughout his life. His first job was delivering the Dayton News at 6 years old, which enabled him to meet many people (Jim didn't know a stranger!). He continued to touch many lives throughout his life. As a young man, he attended St. Brigid parish and school, and formed a deep respect and love for the pastor, Fr. Alphonse Schumacher, and for his Catholic faith. He met his bride Mary Ann at St. Brigid and they married on Aug. 23, 1952. He graduated from the University of Dayton with a degree in civil engineering and worked for Encrete Construction before becoming a founding partner of Miller-Valentine Group along with Gerald Miller and Daniel Valentine. The bond the three of them shared as partners and friends was never broken through years of business deals and personal ups and downs. Jim was very proud of his work building bridges around southwest Ohio. When a devastating tornado struck his beloved Xenia in 1974, Jim brought in one of the first construction crews to offer assistance. He was a great storyteller and some say he missed a second career as a stand-up comic. He and Mary Ann were strong advocates for the life of the unborn and worked to support Dayton, Ohio and National Right to Life for many years. He spent many Saturday afternoons cheering the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, loved music, especially the opera, and supported the Dayton and Cincinnati Operas for many years. He was an avid reader and loved a good political discussion above all else. He loved his grandchildren more than anything and would gladly retell stories of their recent adventures and accomplishments. He had an infectious smile, a razor-sharp wit, and a heart full of love and compassion for his fellow man. God blessed us by loaning him to us for 78 years. Rest, now, in peace. We love you. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Emmanuel Catholic Church, 149 Franklin St., Dayton 45402, with Fr. Lee Sciarrotta and Fr. Tom Meyer officiating. Burial will be in St. Brigid Cemetery in Xenia. Jim's family will receive friends on Tuesday from 4-8:00 p.m. at Routsong Funeral Home, 2100 E. Stroop Rd., Kettering. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to The Life Resource Center, 1 Elizabeth Place, Dayton, OH 45408. Condolences and other remembrances may be sent to the family by visiting www.routsong.com