Frank X. “Knobby” Walsh Obituary

#Middlebury #Obituary

Beloved family man, businessman, golfer

Frank X. “Knobby” Walsh, 94, formerly of Waterbury, died peacefully on his birthday at home with family after a short illness. Frank was born on Feb. 10, 1924, in Waterbury, Conn., the son of the late Francis X. Walsh and Louise (Argenta) Walsh. He was the husband of Ann (Traver) Walsh for 36 years before her passing in 1985.

Frank was a graduate of Crosby High School, class of 1941. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy from 1942-1946 in the American, Middle East and Pacific theater of operations. Upon completion of his duties, he attended Bryant University and graduated in 1949.

Frank worked in sales for Chase Brass and Copper in Dallas, Texas for three years. Afterward, he settled in Waterbury, where he worked as an independent businessman and raised his family. He was a life-long avid golfer and worked part-time for 20 years at the Old Lyme Country Club. He also owned and operated the Woodbury Driving Range for several years.

He is survived by his children: Michael Walsh and his wife, Rose M., of Middlebury; Linda Garrity and her husband, George, of Kensington; and Maureen Goss and her husband, George III, of Guilford. He leaves six grandchildren: Michael Walsh Jr. and his wife, Emily; Kara (Walsh) Keenaghan and her husband, Brian; Kaelyn (Garrity) Zakem and her husband, Elliott; Benjamin Garrity; Traver Garrity; and George A. Goss IV and his wife, Kathleen. In addition, he leaves six great-grandchildren: Charlotte Walsh, Michael Walsh III, Francis X. Walsh, Carolina Keenaghan, Brian Keenaghan Jr., and Dylan Grace Zakem.

Frank is also survived by his sister Alice (Walsh) Northrop. He was predeceased by two sisters, Virginia Walsh and Amelia (Walsh) Miclette.

All who knew him remember his bright smile, his sense of humor, his love of the simple life and the fact that he jogged and worked out with weights into his nineties. He will be greatly missed by his large extended family and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Feb. 17, at 10 a.m. at St. John of the Cross Church in Middlebury. Burial with full military honors will follow at New Calvary Cemetery in Waterbury. A calling hour will be held from 8 to 9:00 a.m. on Saturday at Murphy Funeral Home at 115 Willow St. in Waterbury.

Donations in memory of Frank can be made to: The Fisher House Foundation, 111 Rockville Pike, Ste 420, Rockville, MD 20850 or online at www.fisherhouse.org.

Visit www.murphyfuneralhomect.com for more information or to send an online condolence.