John Leslie Walsh

John Leslie Walsh, 89, of Holton passed away Saturday, February 19, 2011 at the Kings Daughters Hospital in Madison. He was born near Pierceville on May 4, 1921 the son of John and Alice Stegner Walsh. He was married to Ruth Brower on June 12, 1939 and his wife of 71 years survives. Other survivors include three sons Lloyd (Bernice) Walsh of Versailles, Alan (Arlene) Walsh of Nashville, IN, and David (Janie) Walsh of Palm Bay, Florida; 9 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Gary, brothers Norman and Walter Walsh, and his sisters Beulah Laswell and Lucille Downey. Mr. Walsh was a member of the Versailles Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and a trustee. He was also a member of the Ripley County Farm Bureau and the Versailles American Legion. Mr. Walsh was a farmer, a former employee of the Halcomb Home Center in Versailles, and drove a school bus for the Versailles schools for 20 years. John was an Army veteran of WWII where he served with the 740 Railway Operation Btn. He served in Northern France, Rhineland Central Europe, and the Ardennes receiving the American Theatre Ribbon, Good Conduct Ribbon, Victory Medal, and the EAME Ribbon with 4 bronze stars. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 23 at 11am at the Versailles Baptist Church with John's granddaughter Rev. Lesley Krieger and Rev. Mike Cantrell officiating. Burial will be in the Holton Cemetery with military graveside rites by the Versailles American Legion. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5pm to 8pm at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles and from 10am until time of services Wednesday at the church. Memorials may be given to the Versailles Baptist Church building fund or the Holton Cemetery in care of the funeral home.