Richard J. Walsh | Engineer, 78

Richard J. Walsh, 78, of Maple Glen, an retired aerospace engineer, died of heart failure Wednesday at Abington Memorial Hospital.

Mr. Walsh graduated from North Catholic High School in Philadelphia and earned a bachelor's degree in electronic physics from La Salle University.

During the Korean War, he served in the Navy in Italy.

After his discharge, he joined General Electric Co. in Philadelphia, and was involved in government defense projects. For three years in the 1970s, he worked for Martin Marietta Corp. in Houston, where he was a flight controller for NASA's Apollo and Skylab programs. He then returned to GE, and was with the company's aerospace division in Valley Forge until retiring in 1992.

As a youth, Mr. Walsh played in an amateur football league in Port Richmond. He later coached girls' softball for the Catholic Youth Organization in Maple Glen. He was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians Lodge in Port Richmond. He enjoyed bridge and family vacations in Sea Isle City, N.J.

Since 1960, he had been married to Mary Lou Weldon Walsh. They met at a Halloween party at a resort in the Poconos.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Walsh is survived by daughters Denise DiNardo, Theresa Grabowski, Mary Lou O'Rourke, Bernadette Sukley and Margaret; a sister, and 11 grandchildren.

Friends may call at 6:30 p.m. today and from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. tomorrow at Ciavarelli Funeral Home, 951 E. Butler Pike, Ambler. A Funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. tomorrow at St. Alphonsus Church, 33 Conwell Dr., Maple Glen. Burial will be in St. John Neumann Cemetery, Chalfont.