James F. Walsh

Walsh - James F. November 22, 2011 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, beloved husband of 51 years of Jane Sippel Walsh; dear father of Peter (Lisa), Mary Beth Farrell, Kelly (Dr. Gregory) Valeriano, Joseph (Julie), James F., Jr. (Dr. Amy) and Kevin Walsh; also survived by 17 grandchildren; brother of Helen Redman and the late Richard J., Robert Walsh and Jean Matthews. Friends may call Friday, December 9 from 4-8 PM at the DENGLER, ROBERTS AND PERNA FUNERAL HOME, 2070 Eggert Rd. (between N. Bailey and Niagara Falls Blvd.) A Memorial Mass will be offered Saturday, December 10 at Christ the King Church at 11 AM.

James F. Walsh, who formed his own insurance agency in Amherst and was a founding member of the Amherst Gaelic League, died Nov. 22 in Holy Cross Hospital, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where he had been living in recent years. He was 80.

Mr. Walsh was born in Geneva and graduated from De- Sales High School there. After serving as a military police officer in the Air Force from 1950 to 1954, he graduated from Niagara University, which he attended on the GI bill.

After college, he worked as a district sales manager for Scott Lawn Products, then went into the insurance industry with his brother Richard and Henry Lactot. He formed the James F. Walsh Agency in Snyder in the mid-1980s.

He was a member of Wanakah Country Club, the American Legion and the Amherst Gaelic League, of which he was a founding member in 1972. He was an avid golfer and claimed to be Wanakah’s best putter.

Survivors include his wife, the former Jane Sippel, whom he married the day after Christmas in 1959; four sons, James Jr., Joseph, Peter and Kevin; two daughters, Mary Beth Farrell and Kelly Valeriano; and a sister, Helen Redman.

A memorial Mass will be offered at 11 a. m. Saturday in Christ the King Catholic Church, Lamarck Drive and Main Street, Snyder, where Mr. Walsh had been a parishioner for many years.