In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar

 

John Francis Walsh

 

Submarine Detector, RCNVR

 

Born: 31 May 1926, Arthur, Ontario

 

Died: 21 Nov 2022, Arthur, Ontario

 

WALSH, John - was born in Arthur, Ontario. He left school to join the RCNVR during the Second World War on 04 Jun 1944. He completed basic training at HMCS PREVOST in London Ontario and on-water training at Port Stanley.  He then went to HMCS CORNWALLIS for further training and then to HMCS STADACONA in Halifax to take a Submarine Detector (ASDIC) course.  After course completion, John was drafted to the minesweeper HMCS WALLACEBURG J336. The WALLACEBURG was on convoy duty in the North Atlantic until the end of the war. Following discharge on 22 Dec 1945, he attended Toronto University, graduating in Pharmacy in 1952. He practiced pharmacy in Arthur for the next 62 years. John was awarded the 1939-45 Star, the Atlantic Star and the War Medal 1939-45.  In 2002, he received the Queens Golden Jubilee Medal. He has been a member of the Arthur Legion Branch 226 for 25 years.

 


 

WALSH, John - was born in Peel Township on May 31, 1926 and was married to the love of his life, Mary Teresa (Epoch) of Kenilworth for fifty-nine years. Mary Teresa (Tess) passed away in May, 2011. John was a long-time parishioner of St. John's Catholic Church in Arthur. He served in the Canadian Navy during WWII on the minesweeper, HMCS WALLACEBURG and later established Walsh's Pharmacy in 1952. John coached various levels of hockey in Arthur for 21 years and was the co-founder of the Arthur and Area Historical Society. He published several popular local history books. John also enjoyed a second part-time pursuit, raising cattle and sheep on his small hobby farm while raising eight children with Tess.

 

His three greatest loves were family, faith and Arthur.

 

Dear father of Jerome (Kathy) Walsh of Sammamish, Wash., Marian (Roger) Mainland of Heidelberg, Jane (Gerald) Heffernan of Listowel, Valerie (Brian, Deceased) Cooper of Huntsville, Frank (Tina) Walsh of Fergus, Jack (Darlene) Walsh of Arthur, Joseph (Cheryl) Walsh of Arthur, and Christopher (Jennifer) Walsh of Burlington. Loving grandfather of Erin, Robyn, Amy, Michael, Brian, Laura, Tessa, Matthew, Jayna, Katie, Tyler, Michael (Deceased), Jason, Melissa, Jennifer, Leanna, Allison, John, Jacob, Cassidy, Nicholas, Andrea, Nathaniel and Madeleine. Loving great-grandfather of 22 wonderful children.
John's sister, Mary (Wolsley), his brother, Joseph Walsh and sister Frances (Tye) are pre-deceased and he has a surviving brother, Michael Walsh of Arthur.
The family will receive friends at the St. John The Evangelist Parish Centre, 150 Georgina Street, Arthur on Friday, December 2, 2022 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

 

The Funeral Mass will be Celebrated in St. John The Evangelist Roman Catholic Church on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. followed by interment in St. John's Catholic Cemetery, Arthur.

 

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 226, Arthur will conduct a Legion Service on Friday, December 2, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.

 

As expressions of sympathy, donations to St. John Cemetery or the Arthur and Area Historical Society would be greatly appreciated by the family.

 

Arrangements entrusted to the Crawford Funeral Chapel, Arthur.

 

Ships served in:

HMCS PREVOST

HMCS WALLACEBURG

 

JW01

JW02

JW03

(JW01) HMCS WALLACEBURG J336

(JW02) SD John Walsh painting ship on HMCS WALLACEBURG J336

(JW03) John Walsh on HMCS WALLACEBURG with the ship's mascot

 


 

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