Henry Francis "Harry" Walsh

Henry "Harry" Francis Walsh

Hillsborough

Henry "Harry" Francis Walsh of Hillsborough, NJ died in the morning of August 17, 2011. He was born on August 21, 1926 and grew up during the depression in Ashley, PA. He graduated from high school and was drafted into the army where he served with the 7th Infantry division seeing combat on Okinawa. He survived the war, malaria, and the loss of his mother. He graduated in 1951 with a BA from King's College of Wilkes-Barre, PA. He settled in central NJ where he worked for NJ Central Railroad and later Airtron. A new friend invited him to visit a family farm in Belle Mead, NJ where he met the love of his life. Henry and Irene were married on February 15, 1958 during a blizzard. In 1960, they moved to East Mountain Road in Belle Mead, NJ. They raised three children, spent summers of family picnics, deep-sea fishing, and driving vacations to 40 of the lower 48 states. They saw places like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone Park, Mount Rushmore, and Plymouth Rock. He was very involved in the Boy Scouts with his two sons. He was a longtime member of the VFW, American Legion, and the Holy Name Society. In 1989 he retired from the Somerset County Board of Social Services. With his children grown, Henry and Irene wintered in Florida, learned ballroom dancing, and traveled to Hawaii, cruised Alaska and the Caribbean. With all the traveling and things to see, their lives were always centered in the love of family and friends. Their trips with the most memories were those to central Europe to see Irene's family and to Ireland to see the land that Henry's ancestors left behind. He was preceded in death by his sister Mary and brothers Jim, John, and Joe. He is survived by his wife Irene, his children, Michael, Rose, and Henry, his grandchildren Joe, Michelle, Mary, Eric, Julia, and Sarah. Always with a glint in his eye, a Guinness in his hand, and a joke in his pocket, he will be sorely missed. Funeral services will begin on Saturday at 8:45am in the Hillsborough Funeral Home, 796 Rt. 206, Hillsborough followed by a 9:30am Mass of Christian Burial in Mary Mother of God Church, Hillsborough. Entombment will follow in St. Bernard's Mausoleum, Bridgewater. Visiting will be Friday from 2-4 & 7-9 in the funeral home.