grave import

Obituary

Robert "Bobby" Matthew Walsh, 54, of Phoenix, Arizona, and formerly of Burlington and Jacksonville, Florida, died Saturday, May 20, 2006, at his home. Born June 19, 1951 in Burlington, he was the son of Robert Eugene and Gertrude Johnson Meinsen and James Gresham Walsh. Mr. Walsh was a 1969 graduate of West Burlington High School, 1972 graduate of Southeastern Community College and a 1975 graduate of Drake University College of Pharmacy. He was a licensed pharmacist in Iowa, Arizona and Florida. He worked at Walgreen Company in Phoenix and had worked at Shopko Pharmacy in Fort Madison. He was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church, Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, Arizona Pharmacy Association and Iowa Pharmacy Association. He enjoyed computers, reading, writing, exercising, golfing, sunbathing, painting and doing caricatures. He very much loved time with family and friends. Bobby loved life and never felt he was better than anyone else. Mr. Walsh was the author of the book "One White Horse". He had earned a brown belt in Tae Kwon Do Karate. In 1978 he won the Mr. Iowa Physique Contest and in 1979 the Mr. Midwest Physique Contest. In College he modeled for two magazines. Survivors include his mother, Gertrude E. Meinsen of West Burlington; three brothers, Phil Walsh of West Burlington, Michael (Grace) Walsh and James (Susan) Walsh-Meinsen both of Addison, New York; one sister, Mary Anne (Patrick) Ricks of Iowa City; eight nieces and nephews, Randy Walsh, Michelle Watts, Megan Walsh, John Ricks, Joan McGillin, David Walsh, John Walsh and Michael Gilbert; eight great nieces and nephews, Shamis and Liam McGillin, Amber and Jennifer Watts, Piper and Zoe Walsh and Oscar and Elizabeth Gilbert; and cousins. His father, James Walsh, and stepfather, Robert Meinsen, preceded him in death. A memorial has been established for Iowa Donor Network.