William Francis Walsh M.D.

1925 - 2008

William Francis Walsh M.D. died after a long illness on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2008, in Bakersfield, CA. Bill was born in San Francisco on December 18, 1925 and raised in Eureka, CA. He left high school for an accelerated admission to Stanford University then enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II where he served with the 165th Infantry Regiment. From March to June 1945, at age 19, Bill Walsh served his country as a medic during the Battle of Okinawa, the largest and last major amphibious assault in the Pacific Theater. Bill met the love of his life Ann Kimber as a child while vacationing in Ventura, CA; they were married on Dec 27, 1947, a union that lasted for 60 years. He graduated from Stanford Medical School in 1951 and began the practice of family medicine at Ventura County Hospital where he did his residency. Bill later moved to Camarillo where he practiced family medicine for 22 years, raised a family of eight children, and delivered and cared for many Ventura County residents. Dr. Walsh was instrumental in the building of Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo. His interests focused his practice on family care: prepared child birth, breast feeding, and natural family planning. He founded the Ventura County Right to Life League. In 1976, Bill and his family moved to Lancaster, CA, where Bill served as Director of the UCLA Family Practice Residency Program. He continued his medical practice with his son Tom J. Walsh, M.D. It was honestly said of Dr. Walsh that he never put personal gain above his care for his patients, and he never met a person he could not talk to [sometimes forever]. Even in retirement in Idaho, Bill practiced medicine in a limited way for 13 more years. He moved to Bakersfield in 2006 to be near his family during his final struggle with lung cancer. Bill is survived by his wife Ann Kimber Walsh of Bakersfield and his eight children: Kathy Campbell, Oakland, CA; Mary Frances and husband Paul Lafranchise, Bakersfield, CA; Kimber and wife Robyn Tucker Walsh, Klamath River, CA; Tom and wife Annie Tobias Walsh, Yerington, NV; Sheila Walsh, Flagstaff, AZ; Ruth and husband Jeff Godde, Rosamond, CA; Pat and wife Catherine Rushing Walsh, Camas, W A; and Mike and wife Anne Hughes Walsh, , Jamestown, OH. Bill is survived by 35 grandchildren and one great grandaughter. He is preceded in death by his infant son William Francis Walsh Jr. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. on Monday evening, March 24, at St, Michael's Chapel. Bakersfield. A Traditional Requiem Mass will be held at St. Michael's Chapel at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, March 25. Bill Walsh will be buried at Ivy Lawn Cemetery in Ventura County. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Life Center of Ventura County or to Optimal Hospice of Kern County. May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rain fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, Mav God Hold you in the palm of His hand William Francis Walsh, M.D. 1925 - 2008 Doughty-Calhoun-O'Meara Funeral Directors