OBITUARY
Doris Ruth (May) Walsh passed away in her home peacefully, surrounded by family, on 3 January 2026 at 101 years of age – succumbing to a case of pneumonia.
Doris was the wife of James (Jim) David Walsh until his death in December 2012, and Mother to their four children.
She is survived by their eldest son, James David Walsh, Jr., and eldest daughter, Patricia Ann (Patty) Walsh. She was predeceased by their son, Richard Dennis (Rick) Walsh, and daughter, Mary Elizabeth (Walsh) Phillipus. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren — Michael Phillips, James David Walsh, III, Sammi Smith, Louis Lane, III, Rachel Morris, Jacob Lane, Rebekah Miller, Deborah Lane, Mary Summy, Stephen Koch, and Charles Koch – and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Doris was born into a farming family, the 4th of five children. She was born and went to school in Nevada County Arkansas. She met and married Jim while he was in the Army during WW II. After Jim’s discharge they lived in his home town of Albany where Jim Jr and Patty were born. Jim worked taking orders for a dairy company. After the family moved back to Arkansas and later to Texas, Jim began working for the telephone company and was eventually transferred to San Angelo.
Rick was born in Texarkana, and Mary was born in San Angelo. Doris had some nurse’s training and sometimes worked in healthcare, but also worked as a waitress and was primarily a wife and mother.
Originally Doris attended Southern Baptist services but agreed to having her children raised Catholic. She sometimes attended mass at Sacred Heart and later Holy Angels parish but later preferred attending Church of Christ services and, until Jim’s death, was a member of 9th and Main Church of Christ Church in San Angelo.
After Jim’s death she moved to Rockwall, Texas to be cared for by her devoted daughter Mary until mid-2024. Doris attended Church of Christ services near there. In 2024 she returned to live in the house the family had owned since shortly after they moved to San Angelo; she was lovingly cared for by her eldest granddaughter, Sammi Smith, until her death. Doris remained faithful, loving, kind, and in good humor until the end. She loved Gospel music and was listening to it on YouTube on the day she passed.
Visitation for Doris will be held Thursday, January 8, 2026 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Johnson’s Funeral Home. Her funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, January 9, 2026 in Johnson’s Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Following the interment, the family will have a catered reception at Johnson’s Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to your favorite charity in Doris’ honor.
— From Johnson’s Funeral Home
