Gerald J Walsh Jr's Obituary
Gerald J. Walsh Jr. (Jerry) was born on July 15, 1954, in Chicago, Illinois. He was the only child of Gerald J. Walsh Sr. and Dorothy J. (Fitzgerald) Walsh. Jerry was preceded in death by both of his parents. He is survived by his two beloved cats, Savannah, and Sarah; and the many friends he met along life’s journey.
Jerry spent his youthful years in Chicago, Illinois. His parents moved to Prairie Grove, AR in 1972 where Jerry continued to reside in the family home with his mother Dorothy after his father Gerald Sr. passed in 1982. When you think of the loving relationship between Jerry and his mother Dorothy, these words from scripture ring true, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew3:17 Jerry looked after and cared for his mother Dorothy until her passing in 2007.
Jerry was kind, loving, caring, compassionate, and a man of integrity. He had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and was a great conversationalist, and a hard worker. He never met a stranger and could talk for hours on any subject. Jerry worked as a receiving clerk at B. Dalton Books, and the men’s clothing department in sales at Dillard’s Department Store in the Northwest Arkansas Mall. He was looking forward to retirement this July from the local gas company’s call center at Black Hills Energy.
Jerry was a dedicated observer of the human condition and had a great sense of humor about life’s absurdities. He was known as a sly commentator on the passing parade of the staff’s drama and unfolding gossip as he worked from his shipping and receiving station located within the employees’ break/workroom at B Dalton Books.
Jerry was as tight with a buck as he was generous with friends. He drove an old Mercedes, dressed in well-worn clothes, lived in the house he grew up in surrounded by his mother’s antiques.
He sweated what he considered major purchases, such as a new countertop microwave. And he was a self-professed Luddite, insisting on a landline telephone. He kept a flip phone in the glovebox for emergencies only. No texting, no social media, and emailed only from his desktop computer.
When it came to stereo systems, Jerry was a snob, constantly touting the virtues of his Harman Kardon over his friend’s KLH system. He was knowledgeable about all the latest stereo equipment.
He loved listening to music, mainly folk rock, and Americana. His favorite band was Credence Clearwater Revival, and his love for their band leader John Fogarty bordered on obsession. Jerry loved all animals and had a special fondness for cats, especially his Savannah and Sarah. He loved detective shows especially Monk and Charles Kuralt’s On the Road stories on CBS. He loved: sharing a meal with a friend, Mexican food and trying new restaurants. He loved shopping malls, department stores, Marshall Field, mass transit, the L-Train and the city of his birth Chicago.
Jerry was a collector of clocks and books. He especially liked collecting clocks of perceived value that he tucked away in unopened boxes, just waiting on the right rainy day to open.
Jerry had a wonderful speaking voice that was always a pleasure to hear. His mother always thought he would have been great on the radio. He always wanted to be in broadcasting as a radio announcer or voice-over for commercials, but he never got around to it. Jerry used his gifted voice to serve God well as a Lector during the weekend Masses at his parish St. Joseph.
Jerry survived colon cancer and was always grateful for the many friends who helped and supported him during his recovery from surgery and treatments.
Jerry loved people. He was a great friend, and a willing listener. He was always ready with a piece of advice, but never overbearing in sharing it. He loved to laugh, and his blue eyes would sparkle and face light up with his contagious smile as you heard him chuckle. Jerry maintained many friendships over the years by email correspondence. Jerry’s emails were personal, encouraging, inquisitive, caring and genuinely unique to each recipient.
Though Jerry was an only child, he has left behind numerous friends who will miss him dearly; his brothers and sisters-in-Christ.
Jerry’s Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Fr. Balaraju (Bala) Akkala on June 3, 2022, at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Tontitown, AR. A rosary will be offered for the repose of Jerry’s soul at 9:30 a.m. preceding the Mass. The internment will be at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph Cemetery on E Mission Blvd and E Fox Hunter Road, Fayetteville, AR.
What’s your fondest memory of Gerald?
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Share a story where Gerald's kindness touched your heart.
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