Sue Philbin Walsh passed away following a brief illness on June 21, 2014. Sue was born on June 5, 1939 to Tom and Ruth Philbin, and grew up in the Akron-Cleveland, Ohio area, where she graduated high school at the Beaumont School for Girls, in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Sue entered the Vanderbilt School of Nursing in 1957 and received her BS and RN degrees in 1960. In 1962 Sue married James F. Walsh, Jr. who survives his wife of 52 years, along with three daughters, Joanie Marie (Mike Read) of Largo, Florida, Colleen Marie (Cody Shelburne) of Atlanta, Georgia, Kathleen Marie (Jorge Catasus) of Tampa, Florida; one son James F. Walsh, III (Megan) of Nashville, Tennessee, two grandchildren Jayson Read and Cate Shelburne; two brothers: Jeff Philbin (Marge) of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Mike Philbin (Shannon) of Nashville, Tennessee; and several nieces and nephews and grandnieces and two grandnephews.
Following their marriage, Jim and Sue moved to San Francisco where Sue was employed as a nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital and Jim received a Master’s Degree in Theology from the Institute of Lay Theology at the University of San Francisco.
Sue and Jim then moved to San Diego, California for several years. They later lived in Memphis, Tennessee before returning to Nashville in 1970 where Sue was employed by Vanderbilt Hospital Anesthesiology Department where she served as the Quality Assurance Director. While serving as Director, Sue developed several procedures that were later adopted by a number of other Anesthesiology Departments in the United States.
Sue served a term as President of Vanderbilt’s Nursing Alumni and in 2006 the Vanderbilt School of Nursing presented Sue with the Alumni Award for Clinical Achievement in Nursing.
During these years, Jim served as Director of the Office of the Laity for the Catholic Diocese of Nashville with the assignment of setting up Parish Councils throughout the Diocese. After completing the assignment, Jim was appointed as Assistant District Attorney for Nashville Davidson County and served in this capacity for the next 20 years.
Sue and Jim loved to travel and in 2000 they were appointed Director of Travel Ministry or Regional Directors for Tennessee by Educational Opportunity Tours of Lakeland, Florida. As Directors they traveled extensively leading tours to Europe and the Near East and visiting Rome and the Holy Land several times.
For 20 years Sue served as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for Catholic Media Productions which produced the radio and TV series of programs called We Believe. This organization was founded by Jim, Sue and Dr. Richard Shriver, a United Methodist Minister, to explain the basic teachings of the Catholic Church from an Ecumenical point of view. These nationally acclaimed shows have played on 20 TV stations from New York to California.
Sue was an avid sportswoman who loved the outdoors. She excelled in swimming and tennis and always enjoyed a good walk. She was a loving daughter who faithfully cared for her parents prior to their deaths. Sue was truly the perfect wife, mother, sister, friend and co-employee to all who had the pleasure of knowing her. Sue was an active member of St. Ann Catholic Church.
Arrangements are being handled by Marshall-Donnelly-Combs Funeral Home. Members of Catholic Media Productions will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will be receiving visitors on Tuesday, June 24 from 4 to 7 pm at St. Ann Parish Hall and a Requiem Mass will be held at St. Ann Catholic Church on Wednesday, June 25 at 10 am. Internment will take place at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family will ask that donations in Sue’s memory be sent to St. Ann Catholic Church, 5101 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37209 or Catholic Media Productions, 700 Harpeth Knoll Court, Nashville, Tennessee 37221.
Arrangements under the direction of Marshall Donnelly Combs Funeral Home, Nashville, Tennessee.
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