James P. Walsh Jr.

YELLOW SPRINGS — James P. Walsh, Jr., of Yellow Springs, passed away at the age of 91 on April 28, 2022 after a month-long illness. Jim was born in Allentown, PA on September 13, 1930. A graduate of Central Catholic High School, he attended Mount Saint Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He served in the Air Force, officially enlisting in the USAF in December 1952.. During his career he flew KC-97 and KC-135 Aerial Refueling Aircraft as a part of the Strategic Air Command. While stationed at Lockbourne AFB (now Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base) in Columbus, Ohio he met future wife, Shirley DeWine. The couple wed in February of 1958 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Yellow Springs. Their daughter, Carolyn, was born in 1964 while they were stationed at K.I. Sawyer AFB in Marquette, Michigan. From 1966-1967, he was stationed at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Alabama where he attended USAF Squadron Officer School and USAF Command and Staff College. While there, he was notified that he was headed to Vietnam. The couple purchased a house in Shirley's hometown of Yellow Springs where she would have the support of family and friends during his absence. Jim was stationed at Wright Patterson AFB as an Aviation Research Test Pilot. He was stationed at Wright-Patt from 1969 until his retirement as a Lt. Colonel in 1975. Jim was preceded in death by his parents James P. Walsh, Sr and Marion P. (Hering) Walsh, as well as all six of his siblings. He is survived by Shirley (DeWine) Walsh, his wife of 64 years. He is also survived by daughter, Carolyn, son-in-law Mark Powers, grandson Daniel, and great-grandson Alec. Visitation will be held 12:00-1:00 pm Thursday May 5th, 2022 with the funeral service immediately following at Jackson Lytle & Lewis Funeral Home in Yellow Springs. Jim will be laid to rest at St. Paul Catholic Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family by visiting www.jacksonlytle.com.