Mary Walsh

Mary Wentling Walsh, 93, of Spartanburg, died Sunday, April 24, 2011 at White Oak Estates. Born Mary Lynch Wentling on September 11, 1917, in Greensburg, PA, she was the daughter of the late Joseph DeWalt and Mary Lynch Wentling. She was the youngest of five children. Mary graduated from Seton Hill Academy in Greensburg and received a B.A. in Political Science from Smith College in 1938. During World War II, she served briefly with the Women's Air Corps and then volunteered to serve in the Red Cross. She was stationed in England from June 1944 through May 1945. In this respect, she was following in the footsteps of her stepmother, Ann O'Hara Wentling, who served as a nurse with the Red Cross in France during World War I. Mary married Thomas Emmet Walsh, Jr. of Orangeburg on March 25, 1946. The couple moved to Spartanburg in 1948, where Mr. Walsh practiced law until his sudden death in 1990. Always an active community volunteer, she also taught countless children to swim under the auspices of the Red Cross. While her children were young she was always involved at their schools. A champion of the less fortunate, Mary worked with the Alston Wilkes Society for many years and visited many of the prisons in this county. She volunteered for many charitable and health-related causes and was the first to volunteer to drive for Mobile Meals. A long-time member of the League of Women Voters, Mary served many elections as a poll worker at the Union Street fire station. She was a delegate to the 1976 Democratic National Convention. She fervently supported integration while working diligently to achieve equality for all. A member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church since her move to Spartanburg, Mary was a lay reader and active in many church activities. A generous donor, Mary supported many local charities and schools, including the Charles Lea Center, Mobile Meals, St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, and Wofford College. Survivors include her seven children, Marilyn Wentling Walsh and husband Edward Laskarzewski, Joanne Walsh Babin and husband Edward, William Emmet Walsh and wife Winnie, Marshall Thomas Walsh and wife Debbie, Thomas Emmet "T" Walsh, III and wife Sara, Natalie Walsh Bishop, and David Lynch Walsh and wife Diane; eleven grandchildren, Kathryn Walsh Windsor and husband Derek, Kevin Bishop and wife Emily, Westbrook Walsh and wife Elizabeth, Laura Bishop, Thomas Emmet "TJ" Walsh, IV and wife Kathleen, Patrick Walsh, Barritt Walsh and wife Kannika, Julie Bishop Trzil and husband Ben, Sarah Bishop, Caitlin Walsh and Zeke Walsh; and four great-grandchildren, Thomas Bishop, Thomas Emmet Walsh, V, Ella Kate Windsor and William Russell Walsh. A Christian wake service will be at 7:00 PM Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel, visitation will follow. A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, conducted by the Rev. Arthur D. Przywara. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be made to Charles Lea Center, 195 Burdette Street, Spartanburg, SC 29307; Mobile Meals, PO Box 461, Spartanburg, SC 29304; The Building Fund, St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 161 N Dean St., Spartanburg, SC 29302; or Wofford College for the Thomas Emmet Walsh Scholarship Fund, 429 N Church St., Spartanburg, SC 29303. Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mary Lynch Wentling Walsh please visit our Sympathy Store.