Eugene "Gene" Walsh Jr.

1951 - 2025

On Tuesday morning, October 7, 2025, our beloved Eugene (Gene) Porter Walsh, Jr. passed away after a brief illness. He was 73 years old.

Gene was born in Florence, SC at the old McLeod Infirmary, the son of the late Bonnie Naomi Wise and Eugene Porter Walsh Sr. He graduated from McClenaghan High School and Florence Darlington Technical College with a degree in electrical engineering. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and retired from the Army Reserves. He began his 44-year career with Carolina Power and Light and retired from Duke Energy in 2013, a beloved colleague to so many.

He was a member of St. Paul Church for nearly 50 years and he loved his church family. His savior was Jesus Christ and the source of his strength. Gene devoted his life to others in his community. He loved being a Scout Leader for Troop 402. He travelled every year to the mountains of southeast Kentucky to build houses for the Red Bird Mission. Ask any kid who grew up in Florence playing ball at Maple Park about Mister Gene, they'd tell you he was their favorite and fairest umpire. If you needed chicken bog for a fundraiser, he was there. If a hurricane came through, he was there. If your lights went out, Gene was there.

He was devoted to God, his family, and his community; a most selfless man.

He met Ellen Gwendolyn Williams in 1974 and they were married 43 loving years. She predeceased him in 2019 and if you asked him, he would tell you she was the light of his life. The truth is, he was the love and light of hers too.

Gene is survived by his children, Mary Alice Faulkenberry (Michael), Quinton Eugene Walsh, and Harriett King Walsh (Hermon). He is also survived by his sister Audrey Mae Babb and his grandchildren, Mary Katherine, Will, Lilah and Porter. His devotion to his grandchildren was the focus of the last years of his life, attending games, birthdays and many trips to the Inlet.

Gene's legacy will be remembered as an adoring husband, father, grandfather, a loyal friend, a master hunter, a mister fix it, a jack of all trades. If you wanted to feed Dolly the burro, he'd show you how to love on her and not get bit and then you got a popsicle. But most of all, he was a servant: a servant to anyone who needed a helping hand. He showered God's love on anyone who needed it.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Waters-Powell Funeral Home. The family will greet visitors at the funeral home Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. That way he and Ellen can watch the Clemson game afterwards. The funeral service will take place at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, October 12, 2025, at St. Paul Church, 1629 West Palmetto Street with burial at Mt Hope Cemetery following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St Paul Church.