Thomas Arthur Walsh

Thomas Arthur Walsh, born on August 24, 1941, in Bell, California, passed away peacefully on May 2, 2024 at Ingleside Asst. Living, with his beloved wife, Jean, by his side. The son of Frederick Arthur Walsh and Dorothy Pauline Lawson, Thomas spent his early years in the Bell/Maywood area before moving to Downey, California, where his father built their family home.

Thomas attended Rio Hondo Elementary and North Jr. High, where he met Jean Panzich. Their paths diverged as they went on to Warren High School, but destiny would reunite them later in life. After graduating high school in 1959, Thomas met Carol Dudek. They married and were blessed with four children, whom they raised in Orange, California, before moving to the central coast.

Thomas began his career at R. H. Strasbaugh the Monday after his high school graduation in 1959. His friend, Larry Strasbaugh, asked him if he would answer phones so the family could go on vacation and that began his career. He rose through the ranks to become the Vice President of Engineering and Chief Technology Officer. He did this while going to Fullerton Jr. College and Long Beach State. Thomas designed high-tech grinding and polishing machines for the semiconductor and optics industry. His crowning achievement was developing a machine to grind and polish the lens for the Hubble Telescope. He semi-retired after 50 years. In 2017, he designed another machine for another company and just recently saw a video of it completed. Many say he was a genius at what he did.

After the death of Carol in 1999 and Jean’s husband in 1996, Thomas and Jean found each other again at a high school reunion. Their love rekindled, and they married on May 19, 2001. Thomas is preceded in death by his wife Carol and son James. He leaves behind a brother Gregory Walsh, (wife Josie) three children: Jeffrey Walsh (wife Kim Walsh), Colleen Green, and Thomas Walsh (wife Deanna Walsh), stepdaughter Kelly Helmle (husband Randy Helmle), 15 grandchildren: Amber, James (wife Miranda), Alexi and Connor Walsh, Jeffrey Walsh (wife Heather), Spencer and Jacob Walsh, Thomas, Carolyn and Cody Green, Bradley, Brady and Hannah Walsh, Dylan and Kayla Helmle. 5 great grandchildren: Harper, Hazel, Oliver, Penelope and Ruairi, Nephew: Brandon Walsh, and Nieces: Mindy Passey and Breanna Enriguel and their families.

A viewing will be held on June 21, 2024, from 2:00-5:30 PM at Kuehl-Nicolay Funeral Home, 1703 Spring Street, Paso Robles, CA. The burial will take place on June 22, 2024, from 9:30-10:30 AM at Templeton Cemetery District, 100 Templeton Cemetery Road, Paso Robles, CA. A Celebration of Life will follow at 11:00 AM at First Baptist Church, 1645 Park Street, Paso Robles, CA, with lunch to follow at the church.

Thomas was a member of the First Baptist Church in Paso Robles for many years. He attended regularly even in his yellow wheelchair. He even designed a machine that would get the wheelchair in and out of our Expedition. His mind never stopped designing.

His departure leaves a void in the hearts of those who knew him, but his legacy endures through the memories he created with friends, family, and colleagues. His values continue to inspire us, and his memory will forever be cherished. While we mourn his loss, we also celebrate the profound impact he had on our lives, inspiring us to carry forward the values he embodied so gracefully.