Kenneth William Walsh suddenly slipped through our fingers into God's waiting hands on March 2, 2021.
Ken was born on July 2, 1956 to William and Margaret (Hrabcak) Walsh in Cheraw, S.C.
He was welcomed by two older sisters, Joanne and Linda. As time went on, he was joined by siblings, Patricia, Kevin, Mary, Greg, and Kerry.
As the family relocated to many states, Ken developed a keen love for travel and exploration.
He carried with him his childhood curiosity and wonder throughout his lifetime. He instilled his sense of wonder and awe of the natural beauty of this world into his family, highlighted by the family's cross-country adventures.
Ken visited many United States National Parks and hiked to the summits of several mountains. Ken had a love of hiking, camping, biking, and kayaking, to name a few, and of course a passion for music. He played the piano, guitar, tin whistle, and other instruments, all self-taught. He most recently learned to play the harp, and he planned to learn many more in the music room of their future forever home.
At Morris Knolls High School, Ken developed a passion for playing and coaching soccer. He was captain of the high school soccer team in 1974. He went on to play varsity soccer for Muhlenberg College. After he graduated in 1978, he coached many adult and youth soccer teams (boys and girls) for 38 years.
Ken’s career was in the computer programming field, which he started at New York Life, and then moved on to Bank of America in San Francisco, California. His love for his family brought him to N.J. every chance he had, until he eventually moved back to be closer to them all. There he continued his computer programming career, where he met his Forever Soulmate, Irene Romanofsky, working at AT&T.
They married in 1986 and have been inseparable ever since. Together in Randolph they raised three children, Melanie, Jennifer, and Daniel. Ken was so very proud of them all!
After Ken retired from Verizon in 2016, he and Irene moved to N.C., where they were able to continue their outdoor lifestyle and remain active in their church, various activities, and volunteer organizations.
In Ken's life, the most important things were God and family (with soccer coming in as a very close third). His unbridled enthusiasm for life touched everyone around him. He did not go anywhere without making a friend for life, and he would hold a genuine conversation with every person he met. He was always good for a laugh, or a song. He wrote plenty of songs for and about his children. His appreciation of the world around him and his love for people are among the most memorable qualities he passed onto his children. His goal each day was to make other people smile. At that, he most certainly succeeded.
Ken was predeceased by his mother Margaret (Margie) in 1986, sister Joanne in 2011, brother Greg in 2014, brother Kevin in 2016, and sister Patricia in 2019.
He is survived by his wife Irene (Romanofsky), daughter Melanie Deady and husband John, daughter Jennifer Castiglione and husband Jeffrey, and son Daniel. Also, his father William, sisters, Linda Hogan (Michael DeVito), Mary Covert (Bill), and Kerry Stevenson, sister-in-law Anna Romanofsky, brother-in-law Andrew Romanofsky (Maribeth), and 25 nieces and nephews, with whom he loved to teach and play!
Funeral service information is as follows,
Wilmington, North Carolina services:
- Sunday, March 7th - 4:00-5:00pm - Viewing and Visitation at St. Basil the Great Orthodox Church, 4601 Blue Clay Road, Castle Hayne, NC 28429
If the parking lot is full when you arrive, use the CFCC lot across the street.
New Jersey Services:
- Thursday, March 11th - 4:00-8:00pm - Viewing and Visitation at Norman Dean Home for Services, 16 Righter Avenue, Denville, NJ 07834 (Open to all)
- Friday, March 12th - 4:30-7:30pm - Viewing at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 120 Dover Chester Road, Randolph, NJ 07869 (Open to all. Please be aware that we will be preserving the atmosphere of prayer during this time.)
- Friday, March 12th - 7:30pm - Panikhida at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 120 Dover Chester Road, Randolph, NJ 07869 (Please RSVP to Jennifer at 862-432-6376 so we can safely abide by COVID regulations. Many of these prayers are the same as the Funeral Service.)
- Saturday, March 13th - 9:00am - Funeral at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 120 Dover Chester Road, Randolph, NJ 07869 (Family Only)
- Saturday, March 13th - Approximately Noon - Interment at St. Vladimir's Cemetery, 316 Cassville Road, Jackson, NJ 08527
- Saturday, March 13th - Repast nearby until 5pm (Family Only)
- Post-COVID, we plan to celebrate his life with everyone that touched his life.
3/7/21 3:00pm Panikhida will precede the open visitation hour.
St. Basil the Great Orthodox Church YouTube channel:
https://youtube.com/channel/UCB4B4f9qbGyI83m9IP3Sz1A
3/13/21 9:00am Funeral Service with family only
Holy Trinity Orthodox Church Facebook page:
https://m.facebook.com/Holy-Trinity-Orthodox-Church-Randolph-NJ-219581048250098/
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Ken to:
- Holy Trinity Orthodox Church 120 Dover Chester Road, Randolph, NJ 07869
- St. Basil the Great Orthodox Church 4601 Blue Clay Road, Castle Hayne, NC 28429
- Any organization that is close to your heart
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