Dr. Raymond Walsh

Dr. Raymond Robert Walsh of Glen Carbon, Illinois, passed away on February 1, 2017 at age 91.
He was born on April 9, 1925 in Denver, Colorado, the son of Cora Hutchinson and Joseph P. Walsh.
He grew up in Denver and as a young boy had a memorable job at a corner store fountain shop where he saved coins that later became rare collectors' items. He attended Regis High School in Denver. In 1943, Dr. Walsh enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving until 1946 as Corporal and specializing in aviation electronics. He was proud to be remembered for his military service by an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in 2015 with fellow war veterans, accompanied by his second oldest daughter. Following service in the armed forces, he attended Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, where he earned a B.A. degree in Zoology in 1950 and a Ph.D. in Comparative and Cellular Physiology in 1953. In 1951, he was a visiting scholar at Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory, Massachusetts. While at Cornell, he met Betty Hull of Rome, New York, and the two were married in 1952. The newlyweds moved to Long Island, New York, where he was employed as a Research Associate at Brookhaven National Laboratory from 1953-1955. In 1955, the couple moved to Englewood, Colorado, where as devoted parents they raised their family of six children.
Dr. Walsh was an Assistant and Associate Professor of Physiology at the University of Colorado Medical School, Denver campus from 1955-1971. He then worked for a short time as Coordinator of Laboratories at the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine in Alton. Soon after, he became Chair and Professor of the Biology Department at St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, where he served from 1972 until his retirement in 1988. During several years, he taught summer courses in the Department of Biology at Washington University, and he was also Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. He was a well-respected university instructor and mentor, admired by students and faculty alike. In retirement, he was elected and served two consecutive terms on the Edwardsville School District. In 1996, he received an Award of Excellence from the Illinois State Board of Education, the highest honor bestowed upon recipients of the Board's education awards program. Dr. Walsh enjoyed many hobbies and activities, including regular church attendance and ministry, stamp and coin collecting, reading, playing tennis, flower gardening, daily Sudoku puzzles, and traveling extensively throughout the world.
He was predeceased by his parents, older brother (Joseph Walsh), younger sister (Margaret Walsh), and a niece (Rosemary Walsh).
He is survived by Betty, his beloved wife of 64 years, and loving children: daughter Kathleen Granseth (husband Gary) of Winona, Minnesota, daughter Peggy Kinamore of Collinsville, Illinois, son William Walsh (wife Kathy) of Spokane, Washington, son Stephen Walsh of Gainesville, Florida, son Thomas Walsh of Edwardsville, Illinois, son Dominic Walsh (wife Jennifer) of Juneau, Alaska; eight grandchildren (Nicholas Granseth of Winona, Minnesota; Geoffrey Granseth of Phoenix, Arizona; Julie Kinamore, Michael Granseth, and Matthew Granseth of Denver, Colorado; Elizabeth Kinamore of Chicago, Illinois; Joshua and Kally Walsh of Juneau, Alaska); five great grandchildren (Logan and Preston Granseth of Winona, Minnesota; Gabriella, Carly, and Mya Granseth of Phoenix, Arizona); two nieces (Maryann Walsh of Dallas, Texas and Molly Farrell of St. Louis, Missouri); and a nephew (Joseph Walsh of Mesa, Arizona).
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at Barry Wilson Funeral Home, Maryville, IL.
Funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, February 4, 2017 at Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Maryville, with Father Joseph Havrilka, Celebrant. Burial will be at a later date in Colorado.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church or to the Salvation Army and may be made at the funeral home.