Bert T Walsh Obituary

Redding Record-Searchlight

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Bert Thompson Walsh 

December 28, 1926 – December 11, 2005

Bert was born in San Francisco, son of Albert Marion Walsh and Ruth Neely Thompson. He was a graduate of Lowell High School, and made lasting friends in the Sea Scouts, sailing on San Francisco Bay. After getting his third mate’s license from the California Maritime Academy, Vallejo, he sailed for Matson Navigation Company on the Matsonia, and on the standard oil company tanker HD Collier.

He volunteered as an officer for the USNR in 1949, and saw active duty during the Korean War. From 1950 to 1952 he served on the USS Catamount (an LSD) in Japan and Korea, mostly in the engine room. This was his first introduction to a steam power plant and he found it interesting. Discharged as an Lt.jg, he utilized the G.I. Bill to graduate from the University of California in June 1957 with a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering.

As a licensed Professional Engineer in California, Oregon and Washington, he was project manager for Chevron asphalt plants in Troy, New York; Calgary, Canada; and Phoenix, Arizona. A subsequent major project was successfully moving Phillips & Van Orden’s printing plant from San Francisco to San Jose without interrupting production.

In 1969 he first came to Redding to work for Kimberly-Clark at the Anderson paper mill. In 1976 he moved his family again when he went to work for Pacific Engineering Company, a private consulting firm in Portland, Oregon, and remained there for 10 years, engaged on projects in the Northwest and Canada.

Bert and his trees: "If you want to be happy for a year, plant a garden;
if you want to be happy for life, plant a tree."

He took early retirement in 1986 and happily returned to Redding with his wife Madge. Here he resumed his volunteer activities with the Shasta Historical Society, serving on its board of directors 1990-1996, and as its president from 1992 to 1994. Both he and his wife enjoy delving into local historical research; Bert devoted much of his energy to locate lost grave sites and cemeteries, meeting interesting local people wherever he went.

Generally undemonstrative and unpretentious, he was known for his ready wit, his dry, apt (and often irreverent) remarks. After a major heart attack in 1999, he knew he was living on borrowed time. His heart and lungs finally failed; hospitalized, he met his death peacefully. Madge was with him.

He was one of the last surviving members of his Sea Scout crew and of an informal group of his classmates from the California Maritime Academy. He was also a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers; the Conference of California Historical Societies; E Clampus Vitas; Horsetown-Clear Creek Preserve; Turtle Bay Exploration Park; and the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, Redding.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Madge Richardson Walsh; their son David Richardson Walsh of Beaverton, Oregon, their daughter Caitilin Walsh of Redmond, Washington, her husband, Alfred Hellstern, and two grandsons, Marcus and Daniel Hellstern. Audrey, a stillborn granddaughter predeceased him.

Memorial services are to be held at 2 PM Saturday, January 14, 2006, at First Christian Church, Redding, Pastor Heather Hennessey officiating. His ashes are to be interred at Redding Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the church or a charity of your choice are suggested.