Ronald W. Walsh

Ronald W. Walsh, Sr., age 86, passed away on November 25, 2019.  Of Media, formerly of Havertown.   Beloved husband of Anne Marie (nee Lanni) Walsh and the late Patricia (nee McGuckin) Walsh.  Loving father of Lynn (Ken) Grady, Karen (Kevin) Keenan, Susan (Greg) Halligan, Christopher Walsh and the late Ronald W. Walsh, Jr.  Devoted Pop Pop to Ron (Katharine) Walsh, Ken (Chloe) Grady, Jerry Walsh, Gregory Halligan, Matthew Grady, Lindsay (Jim) O’Brien, Kelly Keenan, Erin Walsh, Nicole (Paul) Shay, and Bob Sparks and great grandfather to Tyler and Kaylee Grady.

Ron was born on August 31, 1933 to Thomas and Emilie Walsh.  Ron was the middle child and had two brothers:  Tom and Al.  Ron attended grade school at St. Alice in Upper Darby, high school at West Catholic (Class of ’51) and college at St. Joseph’s (Class of ’61).  Ron played the saxophone in the orchestra at St. Alice’s and in the marching band at West Catholic.

Upon graduation from West Catholic, Ron worked at Upper Darby National Bank as a teller and was quickly transferred to the Yeadon branch.  He was drafted into the Army in 1953 and began his basic training at Camp Gordon in Georgia and was subsequently transferred to Fort Monmouth in New Jersey and Fort Meade in Maryland for further training.  During his final six months in the Army, Ron worked as a Chaplain’s Assistant.

He met his future wife, Patricia McGuckin, at a wedding, and they set June 18, 1955 as their own wedding date.  However, the Army had other plans for Ron; so he had to take a weekend pass to get married.  He had to return to the Army to be mustered out and was finally discharged on July 22, 1955.  Upon his discharge, Ron and Pat honeymooned in the Poconos. 

Then Ron returned to work at the bank and began management training in the main office.  Ron also attended college at St. Joe’s at night earning an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts.  During this time, Ron and Pat started to raise their family of five children.  Being a father and going to college are what Ron considered to be his greatest accomplishments.

Ron went to work for the State of Delaware in 1977 and retired from work in 1994.  Ron thoroughly enjoyed his retirement and soon traveled the world with Pat.  They enjoyed cruising voyages and international travel including Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Canada, the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Costa Rica, Columbia, and their favorite destination:  Bermuda.  They also were frequent visitors to the Jersey shore and traveled to many of the United States.

Ron liked to keep in touch by coordinating reunions for the family, his fellow Burrs of West Catholic, his banker coworkers and even a playground group!  Ron also enjoyed doing odd jobs around the house, working on his computer, solving crossword puzzles, eating ice cream and following all of the Philadelphia sports teams.  He was a fan of Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune and did not appreciate phone calls during their televising.  Ron celebrated Christmas Eve and countless other good times with Jeanne and Jerry McGuckin and family.

Ron and Pat were married for 54 years when Pat passed away in February 2010. 

Ron downsized by selling the family home and moved into an apartment.  He went out with friends to listen to a band and met Anne Marie Morgans (nee Lanni) who caught his eye.  Ron and Anne Marie enjoyed spending time and traveling together and soon were engaged.  They married at a lovely Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Clifton Heights with Anne Marie’s six children and Ron’s five children all together to celebrate with them.  Ron and Anne Marie moved to Media and have been happily married for six years.

Ron would like to be remembered as an honest and nice man by all of the people who knew him.

Relatives and friends are invited to his Funeral Mass 12:00 noon on Friday, November 29, 2019 at Nativity BVM Church, 30 East Franklin Street, Media, PA 19063 where friends may call 10:00-11:45 a.m. at the Church also.  Interment Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon, PA.

In lieu of flowers, family request contributions be made to West Catholic Scholarship Fund, in memory of Ron Walsh, 4501 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19139.