Barbara Ann (Thompson) Walsh

Barbara passed away peacefully with her family and loved ones at her side. She was the daughter of Theodore and Alice Thompson of Chicago. She and her husband, Thomas P. Walsh, Jr., celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary recently and raised five children: Thomas Walsh III, (Michelle) Kathleen, Kimberly, Terrance (Susan) and Sean (Kimberlee). She was blessed to leave this world with 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Barbara graduated from Mother of Mercy High School in Chicago in 1956 and moved to San Jose in 1970. She was a devout Catholic and joined St. Christopher's Parish. She helped head up the CCD program, was very active in the school, and made many lifelong friends. These relationships continued until her passing. They loved to get together regularly to play bridge and/or meet for lunch and a movie. Moving to Santa Cruz in 1982, she and Tom resided in Bonny Doon and joined the Holy Cross Parish, where she continued to be active and made many new close friends. She loved to walk on the beach and tend her garden. She was interested in ornamental horticulture, enjoyed traveling, had a passion for Theology, and a deep thirst for knowledge. When her children were grown she fulfilled a lifetime dream of getting a formal education. She attended Cabrillo College, then graduated from San Jose State University, on the Dean's List and with Honors. She often chuckled that it only took her 17 years to get her BA in English. She wrote beautifully and collected award winning children's literature for her children and grandchildren.

She and Tom moved to Sonoma in 2016 to further retire and be closer to family and grandchildren. They left behind a lifetime of close friends, but in a short time made many new ones, for which she was very grateful. Barbara truly loved life and was a blessing and inspiration to all who knew her. She will be forever missed.

Services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 18, at Holy Cross Church, 126 High St, Santa Cruz, CA.
 

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