Richard J. Walsh

TEWKSBURY -

Richard J. Walsh, age 75, a retired engineer for IBM, died Tuesday morning, July 3, 2007, at Saints Medical Center in Lowell after a lengthy illness.

He was the husband of Norma J. (Baker) Walsh, with whom he had celebrated a 45th wedding anniversary this past June 9.

Born in Boston on Aug. 5, 1931, he was the son of the late Thomas and Mary (Higgins) Walsh. He was raised in Arlington and graduated from Arlington High School in 1949. He later attended Boston College.

Mr. Walsh lived in Danvers and later in East Falmouth before moving to Emerald Court in Tewksbury last year.

He was a member of the Massachusetts National Guard's 180th Field Artillery Division, and was discharged at the rank of staff sergeant.

He began his career with International Business Machines in Fishkill, N.Y., and worked at installations across the U.S. He retired from the Boston offices of IBM.

Mr. Walsh was active in the Knights of Columbus, as the former treasurer of Christ the King Council 13388 in Mashpee, the Fr. Coppens Council in Tewksbury, and was also a 4th degree member of the Bishop Delaney Council of greater Lowell.

He was an active organizer for the Barnstable County Agricultural Society, and served as the treasurer of the annual Barnstable County Fair.

Mr. Walsh was a boatman, as the owner of the ''Lady Norma” sailboat, and the ''Lucky Duck” powerboat. His hobbies included travel throughout the U.S. and Europe, and he was also recognized as an accomplished bird carver.

Besides his wife, he is survived by two sisters, Catherine Walsh of Woburn, and Jane Coughlin of Burlington; a brother and sister-in-law, Thomas and Bernadine ''Bunny” (Babine) Walsh of Salem, N.H.; and many nieces and nephews. He was also the brother of the late Mary Barry.

His funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, July 6, at 11 a.m. in St. Robert Bellarmine Church, Haggetts Pond Road, in Andover. Private burial will be in Bayside Cemetery, Laconia, N.H. Visiting hours will be held Friday morning from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the Tewksbury Funeral Home, corner of Dewey and Main Streets (Route 38), Tewksbury Center, phone (800 in MA or 978) 851-2950. Kindly omit flowers.

Memorials to the Greater Lowell, VNA Hospice, P.O. Box 1965, Lowell, MA 01853, will be appreciated.

For more information, please visit www.tewksburyfuneralhome.com.