Every year William “Bill” Patrick Walsh planted a garden. The sun beat down and his body ached. Still he worked until the seeds grew, the weeds were pulled, and the rabbits kept at bay. He would harvest the fruits of his labor by early August, then, he’d load most of it up in buckets and bags to bring to people around him.
Bill lived his eighty-two years like he gardened. He was driven- determined to accomplish something every day. He was thoughtful- generous with his time and resources. He was diligent- devoted to everything in his care.
Bill worked in the grocery business his whole life (from age eleven, as a delivery boy, until his retirement as an Operations Specialist from AWG). He was a Sharpshooter and served in the United States Army. In his fifties, he started raising cattle for beef with his youngest son; it was vigorous work that brought him joy.
On Friday, August 9, 2019 he passed away after battling an aggressive cancer. His last moments were spent surrounded by people he loved, looking out over the ranch he’d built. He leaves behind his wife and love of sixty-six years, three children, a sister, a pack of grandchildren, a herd of great-grandchildren, seventeen cows, two dogs, a fertile patch behind the house, and countless friends whose lives were touched because he lived.
A Memorial Service will be held for Bill on Saturday, August 17, 2019 at 3:00pm with Visitation held from 1:00 – 3:00pm at McGilley Antioch Chapel, 3325 NE Vivion Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64119.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in his memory.
