Paul Rourke Walsh was 13 when his father died as a firefighter in 1893, his brother Robert a few weeks shy of 15. Suddenly, they had to step up to support their mother and sisters. Early on Paul worked as a newsboy. On June 27, 1904, he married Ida Marie Rieber in Marion County. Just six months later, they welcomed their daughter, Mildred Sarah, on Dec. 23. On Nov. 20, 1906, Paul got a job with the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad. "He cared for his mom and several sisters," Paul's youngest son, Robert K. Walsh, remembered in 1998. "He had a big load on his shoulders." Paul built a long career as a conductor directing trains through the Midwest, switchman making sure the tracks were set correctly for trains to pass and switching foreman directing other switchmen in a yard. Bob Walsh, Paul's son, said his father became a switchman as more children came along so he wouldn't have to travel as much. John Paul "Jack" was born Dec. 27, 1909, Paul Henry on Dec. 7, 1913 and Robert Karl "Bob" on Sept. 30, 1924. Bob Walsh also remembered that his father played semipro baseball. According to an archivist with the C&EI RR Historical Society, Paul worked for the company until retiring Dec. 8, 1944. Paul and Ida also ran a grocery store at the corner of Franklin Street and Baker Avenue in Evansville, Ind., for a number of years. He died Aug. 23, 1954 at his home at 6 W. Maryland Street after a long illness and was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in Evansville.
Obituary
Aug. 24, 1954, Evansville Courier:
Paul R. Walsh, Sr., 74 of 16 W. Maryland St., died at 9:10 p.m. Monday at his residence after a long illness.
He was a retired railroad conductor and had served for 49 years (sic) on the C&El Railroad.
He was a member of the Eagles Lodge and Brotherhood of Railroad Trainment.
He and his wife, Ada (sic), operated a grocery store at the corner of Franklin street and Baker avenue for a number of years.
Survivors besides his wife are one daughter, Miss Mildred Walsh, Evansville; three sons, Jack and Bob, both of Evansville, and Paul Jr., Kankakee, Ill.; one sister, Mrs. Josephine Platz, Evansville; four grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
The body is at the Ted Ziemer Fountain Terrace Chapel pending arrangements.
Obituary
Aug. 24, 1954, Evansville Courier:
Paul R. Walsh, Sr., 74 of 16 W. Maryland St., died at 9:10 p.m. Monday at his residence after a long illness.
He was a retired railroad conductor and had served for 49 years (sic) on the C&El Railroad.
He was a member of the Eagles Lodge and Brotherhood of Railroad Trainment.
He and his wife, Ada (sic), operated a grocery store at the corner of Franklin street and Baker avenue for a number of years.
Survivors besides his wife are one daughter, Miss Mildred Walsh, Evansville; three sons, Jack and Bob, both of Evansville, and Paul Jr., Kankakee, Ill.; one sister, Mrs. Josephine Platz, Evansville; four grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
The body is at the Ted Ziemer Fountain Terrace Chapel pending arrangements.
Paul Rourke Walsh was 13 when his father died as a firefighter in 1893, his brother Robert a few weeks shy of 15. Suddenly, they had to step up to support their mother and sisters. Early on Paul worked as a newsboy. On June 27, 1904, he married Ida Marie Rieber in Marion County. Just six months later, they welcomed their daughter, Mildred Sarah, on Dec. 23. On Nov. 20, 1906, Paul got a job with the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad. "He cared for his mom and several sisters," Paul's youngest son, Robert K. Walsh, remembered in 1998. "He had a big load on his shoulders." Paul built a long career as a conductor directing trains through the Midwest, switchman making sure the tracks were set correctly for trains to pass and switching foreman directing other switchmen in a yard. Bob Walsh, Paul's son, said his father became a switchman as more children came along so he wouldn't have to travel as much. John Paul "Jack" was born Dec. 27, 1909, Paul Henry on Dec. 7, 1913 and Robert Karl "Bob" on Sept. 30, 1924. Bob Walsh also remembered that his father played semipro baseball. According to an archivist with the C&EI RR Historical Society, Paul worked for the company until retiring Dec. 8, 1944. Paul and Ida also ran a grocery store at the corner of Franklin Street and Baker Avenue in Evansville, Ind., for a number of years. He died Aug. 23, 1954 at his home at 6 W. Maryland Street after a long illness and was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in Evansville.
Obituary
Aug. 24, 1954, Evansville Courier:
Paul R. Walsh, Sr., 74 of 16 W. Maryland St., died at 9:10 p.m. Monday at his residence after a long illness.
He was a retired railroad conductor and had served for 49 years (sic) on the C&El Railroad.
He was a member of the Eagles Lodge and Brotherhood of Railroad Trainment.
He and his wife, Ada (sic), operated a grocery store at the corner of Franklin street and Baker avenue for a number of years.
Survivors besides his wife are one daughter, Miss Mildred Walsh, Evansville; three sons, Jack and Bob, both of Evansville, and Paul Jr., Kankakee, Ill.; one sister, Mrs. Josephine Platz, Evansville; four grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
The body is at the Ted Ziemer Fountain Terrace Chapel pending arrangements.
Obituary
Aug. 24, 1954, Evansville Courier:
Paul R. Walsh, Sr., 74 of 16 W. Maryland St., died at 9:10 p.m. Monday at his residence after a long illness.
He was a retired railroad conductor and had served for 49 years (sic) on the C&El Railroad.
He was a member of the Eagles Lodge and Brotherhood of Railroad Trainment.
He and his wife, Ada (sic), operated a grocery store at the corner of Franklin street and Baker avenue for a number of years.
Survivors besides his wife are one daughter, Miss Mildred Walsh, Evansville; three sons, Jack and Bob, both of Evansville, and Paul Jr., Kankakee, Ill.; one sister, Mrs. Josephine Platz, Evansville; four grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
The body is at the Ted Ziemer Fountain Terrace Chapel pending arrangements.
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