John Edward Walsh II

John was born in Washington, DC to John Edward Walsh and Clara Hesslinger Walsh on August 25, 1925. As a teenager he was a bat boy for the Washington Senators and a water boy for the Washington Redskins. He went to Central High School and then enlisted with the U.S. Army and was a certified paratrooper in World War II. He then earned a scholarship for basketball and also played football for a year at Clemson University before getting injured. He worked for Thompson Dairy and went on to work for Wonder Bread for many years. From John’s first marriage he had six children and from his second marriage to Sylvia Cohn he had two more children.

John loved animals, especially his Pomeranians and used to feed the squirrels peanuts outside the back of their Leisure World home. He also had a lifelong love of playing golf and enjoyed watching it and football on TV.

John is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Joe Walsh, his daughter Connie Savia and his wife Sylvia Walsh.

John is survived by his daughters Dianne (John) Rose, Patricia (Ralph) Paris Detwiler, Gloria (Earl) Parker, son John (Irene) Walsh, III, daughter Joanne (Jimmy) Rosenberger, and sons Rich (Hilary) Walsh and Mike (Michele) Walsh and many beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Burial will be at a later date at George Washington Cemetery in Adelphi, MD with a Celebration of Life to follow. Arrangements are by Hines Rinaldi Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society of the United States or Capital Care Hospice.