James William Walsh

James William Walsh (“Billy”) was only 17 years of age when he enlisted in the Navy for service in World War II.  He was stationed on the U.S.S. Ticonderoga, an aircraft carrier, in Admiral Halsey’s Third Fleet in the Pacific.  When many his age were holding baseball bats, Seaman First Class Billy, a gunner, manned a 20mm anti-aircraft weapon.  Typhoons were a major threat, and 3 destroyers capsized during typhoons.  The Ticonderoga attracted another kind of villain as well.  On the 21st of January, 1945, a Kamikaze swooped out of the clouds and hit the Ticonderoga.  Death and destruction abounded.  Wounded denizens of the deep often attract other predators.  The Ticonderoga was no exception and other Kamikazes pounded on her like a school of sharks in a feeding frenzy.  Bill, somehow, survived, as did the homemade ketchup given to him by his grandmother that he had carried throughout the war.  He was awarded many medals.  On December 12, 1945, he was discharged and returned to his family home in the “Forty Acres” in Wilmington, DE.

In 1955, Bill married Jean Smith.  He became a bricklayer and joined Local #1 Bricklayers and Craftworkers Union and the VFW Post in Richardson Park.  He built a brick home in Concord Manor directly across the street from his sister, Kathaleen Walsh Lloyd.  He faithfully attended St. Mary Magdalen Church.  Always a dapper dresser, Bill enjoyed attending dances at the Talleyville Fire Hall; crabbing and fishing; taking bus trips; vacationing in Bethany Beach; watching old westerns; listening to all kinds of music; eating pizza and spaghetti and meatballs; and the company of his dogs, most recently “Maddie”.

Bill lived a full and vital life.  In fact, on December 7th, he partied with his fellow bricklayers.  On December 9th, he fell and never regained consciousness.  He died on December 12th.

Bill is predeceased by his wife, Jean; mother, Catherine Nellie Walsh; father, James Walsh; two infant sons; his sister, Kathaleen Lloyd; his brother in law, Gordy Lloyd; and his niece, Susan Lloyd.  He is survived by his sons, James Walsh (Lissa); Dr. William Walsh; and Edward Justice (Charlotte).  He has one granddaughter, Jessica Brown (Shawn), and three great grandchildren (Brooklyn, Shawn, and Savannah); and many nieces with numerous offspring, including but not limited to Candice Casey (Ron Beck), Kathy McCormick (Terry), Tara Weaver (Jamie), and Michael Whetstone (Tabitha).  His blessing family includes neighbors, Carl and Gina Golden, Susan Firmani, Patty Dusek-Cross, and friend and priest, Father William Hazzard.

Family and friends are invited to visit at the Doherty Funeral Home, 1900 Delaware Avenue, Wilmington on Wednesday, January 2, 2019 from 9:30-10:30AM.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Ann Church, Gilpin Avenue and Union Street at 11:00AM, followed by interment with military honors at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear.

In lieu of flowers, Bill preferred that contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

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