October 2024
REST IN PEACE
Dr. Mark Michael Walsh and Arlene Elizabeth Walsh (Amy), lifelong partners in love and service, passed away peacefully in October 2024: Mark on October 11, at age 90, and Amy on October 27, at age 85. Their love story and dedication to helping others have been an enduring legacy to all who knew them.
Mark was born on May 4, 1934, and Amy on November 15, 1938. They both grew up in large families, and their childhoods were filled with farm chores, family gatherings, and the importance of faith. They each attended Catholic colleges, with Mark achieving a Theology degree and Amy earning a degree in Nursing and Midwifery.
They met in Chimbote, Peru, in the 1960s, responding to Pope John XXIII’s call to serve the poor during Vatican II. There, they worked hand-in-hand, Mark as a priest and Amy as a nun, nurse, and midwife, assisting in the birth of over 3,000 babies. Over time, their friendship blossomed into a deep love, leading them to return to the U.S., marry in 1971, and build a life dedicated to their shared values of service, compassion, and social justice principles.
Upon returning to the United States, they settled in Kingsville, Texas. Dr. Mark Walsh joined Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 1979, becoming the Director of Continuing Education and Adult Programs. Passionate about expanding educational opportunities, he developed programs to support adult learners, including distance learning connecting with international students. Amy served as a school nurse, providing care and support to countless children.
Together, they were champions of their community. Mark was deeply involved in the Kingsville Rotary Club, chairing the International Service Avenue, and advocated for environmental pollution protections with South Texas Opposes Pollution (STOP). They both found joy in gardening, particularly their cherished orchids and lemon tree, birdwatching, and preparing meals to share with others; they were wonderful volunteers at the Weavers of Love Soup Kitchen.
Mark and Amy are survived by their daughter, Amy Walsh; their son, Dan Walsh, and his wife, Nova Walsh; their son, Ed Walsh, and his wife, Michelle Slaughter; and their three grandchildren, Hazel, Laila, and Connor Walsh. They join their fourth child, Mark Andres Walsh, who passed away in 2014, in eternal rest.
A Memorial Mass of celebration will be held on Friday, December 6, at 2 p.m. at St. Gertrude Catholic Church, 1120 S. 8th St., Kingsville, Texas. Instead of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to Catholic Relief Services (https://support.crs.org/donate/memorial) in their memory. Mark and Amy will be remembered for their tireless commitment to others, deep-rooted faith, and the love they shared for their families and everyone they met.
Mark and Arlene were members of CORPUS.