Obituary of Rev. Msgr. Thomas R. Walsh

Rev. Msgr Thomas R. Walsh Olean, NY The Rev. Msgr Thomas R. Walsh, of Allegany, son of the late John J. and Celia Phillips Walsh, died Friday (December 2, 2016) in Cuba Memorial Hospital after a long illness. Father Walsh was a graduate of St. Bonaventure Parochial School and from Allegany Central School, where he was the Class Valedictorian of 1944, winning The James McLaughlin Scholarship to St. Bonaventure University. During his high school and college years, he served as one of the organists at St. Bonaventure Parish Church. While in his third year of college, Father Walsh was accepted as a candidate for the priesthood for the Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina, with the help of the Rev. Thomas Plassman, O.F.M., President of St. Bonaventure University. He attended Mount St. Mary's College and Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland and played the organ and did missionary work in North Carolina during his seminary years. He was ordained in Greensboro, North Carolina, in May, 1953, by the late Bishop Vincent S. Waters. Father Walsh served the Diocese of Raleigh and later the Diocese of Charlotte, when the state was divided into two dioceses because of the growth in the Catholic population. He served as Assistant Pastor and Pastor of thirteen parishes across the Coastal, Piedmont and Mountain areas of the state. He saw and experienced many changes in North Carolina with the growth of the Catholic Church in the South. Perhaps his most notable achievement was his nine years as Pastor of St. Gabriel's Church in Charlotte, when the new church was built. He had much influence on its design, its inclusion of an organ and its protection of the large oak trees on the building site, for which the parish received an award of appreciation from the City of Charlotte. Father Walsh retired to his hometown of Allegany in 1996 and assisted at local parishes in the Buffalo Diocese, often at St. Patrick's Church in Limestone, until his illness prevented him. He was a member of The Allegany Area Historical Association and the Allegany Knights of Columbus, serving as its Chaplain for several years. He is survived by one brother, John P. (Jillian) Walsh in Allegany; three sisters, Barbara Walsh of Houghton, Sally (John) Vanini of Olean, and Cameron (John) Donoghue of Weeki Wachee, Florida; eight nieces and nephews, Margaret Eckhardt, Bridget Walsh, Matthew Walsh, John T. Vanini, Kevin Vanini, Aileen Henning and James and Mark Donoghue. Friends will be received on Monday from 4-7pm at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home 3128 W. State Rd. Olean and again on Tuesday (December 6, 2016) at St. Bonaventure Church in Allegany from 9:30 to 10:30am. A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30am in the church. Burial will be next to his parents in St. Bonaventure Cemetery. Flowers are declined. Donations may be made to St. Bonaventure Church, The Alzheimer's Association of WNY, 2805 Wehrle Dr., Suite 6, Williamsville, NY 14221, The Allegany Area Historical Association, P.O. Box 162 Allegany, NY 14706 or an organization of the donor's choice. Online condolences may be expressed at oleanfuneralhome.com.