Cover photo for Fondren "Pappy" Walsh's Obituary
Fondren "Pappy" Walsh Profile Photo

Fondren "Pappy" Walsh

d. June 13, 2013

Fondren "Pappy" Walsh

Fondren “Pappy” Walsh passed away on June 13, 2013, at the age of 89, after a long and adventurous life. Fondren was born in Leesburg, Mississippi, on December 12, 1923, to Annie Mae and Willie Henry Walsh. He was the youngest of seven children, surviving his sisters, Jewel, Ola Mae, Hattie Boyd and Mary Frances, and his brothers Ray and John B. Following graduation from Branch High School, Fondren joined the Army Air Forces (USAAF) in 1941. During World War II, he served in Egypt and Libya as part of the Allied Forces North African Western Desert Campaign against Germany, Italy and Japan. He separated from the Army Air Forces only to rejoin the new Air Force in 1947. Fondren was working as an Air Force recruiter in Jackson, MS when he met his wife, Eva Lee Thompson, of Oak Grove, Louisiana. They married in 1953 and were stationed shortly thereafter at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS. Fondren and Eva had two children, Steven Samuel (1955) and Kimberly Anita (1957). In 1957, Fondren was sent to Arlington, VA for Spanish language training at the Foreign Service Institute. Fondren and his young family were then posted to Quito, Ecuador where he served in an administrative advisory role to the Ecuadorian Air Force command from 1958 – 1960. He and Eva shared a lively social life with the American Embassy staff in Quito and traveled routinely to Guayaquil and Panama for shopping and sightseeing excursions. Fondren and family returned to the USA for two 3-year postings each at Amarillo Air Force Base (1960 – 1963) and Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX (1963 – 1966) before returning overseas to Italy. Fondren served in operations resource management working alongside Italian Air Force personnel in Vicenza, Italy from 1966 – 1969. Fondren and family took advantage of their three years in Italy to learn the Italian language and travel extensively around Southern Europe in their VW camper van. A single year back to the USA in 1970, stationed at Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, AL, was followed by another special assignment to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), in Mons, Belgium, from 1970 – 1974. By then, Fondren had achieved the rank of Senior Master Sargent (SMSgt) and served as the administrative support to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Intelligence. Again, the family learned the local language, French, and spent their vacation time skiing in the French Alps and touring Northern Europe and England. Fondren returned to Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS in 1974 and retired from his 30 year military career in 1975. Fondren then began a Civil Service career that lasted 10 more years. Fondren is survived by Eva Lee, his wife of 60 years, his daughter and two grandsons, Kimberly, Ian, and Eric Walsh of Mill Creek, WA, his granddaughter, Samantha Walsh, of Dickson, TN, his daughter-in-law, Ina Walsh of Kansas City, Kansas, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Steven Samuel Walsh, his nephew, Douglas Walsh, his six brothers and sisters, and his parents. The family wishes to extend special recognition and eternal gratitude to the nurses and staff at the Rio Grande unit of the extended care facility of the Biloxi Veterans Hospital. By their tender loving care, Fondren lived his final years in dignity and laughter. A memorial service honoring the life of Fondren “Pappy” Walsh will be held at the Bradford – O’Keefe Funeral Home at 2511 Pass Road, Biloxi, MS, at 1:30 pm on Monday, July 1, 2013. Fondren will be laid to rest in the Biloxi National Cemetery with full military honors on July 1, 2013 at 2:30 pm. The public is welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Mississippi chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, http://www.alz.org/ms/ .
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Fondren "Pappy" Walsh, please visit our flower store.

Past Services

Service

Monday, July 1, 2013

Starts at 1:30 pm

Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home - Pass Road

2511 Pass Road, Biloxi, MS 39531

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Cemetery

Biloxi National Cemetery

400 Veterans Ave., Biloxi, MS 39531

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Guestbook

Visits: 31

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree