Barbara Straub Walsh

Cherished Mother of 15 Leaves Legacy of Grace

Barbara Straub Walsh, 97, died peacefully on Monday, June 9th, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Born Barbara Geary Straub on December 26, 1927 in Oil City, Pennsylvania to William Vincent and Mary Ermine (Seep) Straub, she was the third of eight children. She was predeceased by her loyal husband of 65 years, William Thomas Walsh, and eldest daughter, Stephanie Walsh Beilman (Donald, deceased).

Barbara is survived by her 14 children, Pamela "Minna" Walsh (Steve Wood), Bridget Walsh (Criswell Davis, deceased), Monica Walsh, Michael Walsh (Hallie Boyce), Thérèse "Tez" Seiberlich (William), Hilary "Hud" Murray (Kevin), Matthew Walsh (Cristine), Timothy Walsh (Anna), Daniel Walsh (Laura Tiozzo), Maura Burke (Kevin), Brendan Walsh (Desirée), Paul "Chet" Walsh (Cindy), Andrew "Buck" Walsh (Thea Lenborg), and Alexandra "Lexa" Walsh (Dan Nelson). Lovingly referred to as Gam and Bubs by her 31 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren, she maintained a deep and steadfast interest in all of their lives and accomplishments. Family was the most important guiding force in her life, a value exemplified by her own parents and siblings.

Barbara is also survived by her youngest sister, Jane Straub Friday (Jim, deceased), of Pittsburgh, and predeceased by brothers and sisters Vincent Eugene Straub, Katheryne Straub Loughran, (John) Martha Straub Siefer (Walter), Nancy Straub MacInnis (Derrick), William Straub, and Richard Straub (Elizabeth).

Raised in Oil City, Pennsylvania, Barb attended high school at Georgetown Visitation Convent in Washington, DC. While there, she was an active member of the school's hockey and basketball teams, and in later life was proud to show off her winning underhand free-throw to her children. She also participated in Choir and Debate Club, and served as president of Georgetown Visitation's Student Council.  When she was a teenager, Barbara worked as a summer lifeguard while many young men were in the service during World War II.

After graduating, she followed her older sisters to Philadelphia, where they were studying art and nursing.  It was there that several of the Straub girls began careers in modeling, working for fashion departments at stores like Bonwit Teller and John Wanamaker. She met her husband, Bill, on a date recommended by a friend, and the two fell in love at first sight. Their introduction had been encouraged because Barbara and Bill were both interested in raising a large family, and talked openly about having at least 10 children. They were married at the Villanova University Chapel within a year, and while Barbara liked to joke that they "oversubscribed", she couldn't imagine having it any other way. Barbara and Bill possessed a devout faith, based upon their Catholic upbringing, that sustained them through the challenges of shepherding such a large family into adulthood, and they never once veered from their strong foundation. Barbara maintained that deep faith throughout her long life.

While raising 15 children was a distinguished career in itself, Barbara devoted substantial time and effort to her children's assorted school and club sports. The family's VW bus was constantly on the road to numerous basketball, football, swimming, and later, golf, competitions, a sport which she picked up herself after receiving a set of golf clubs from Bill as a Mother's Day gift in the late 1950's. While she considered herself a mediocre golfer, she scored her first of three lifetime holes-in-one after just two years of playing. She then began competing on the Philadelphia Country Club's Women's Golf team, achieving a very respectable USGA handicap of 15.

Barbara loved the game and was a devoted golf volunteer, for several years managing the Philadelphia Junior Girls' Golf program. Because of her high level of service, she was appointed as a board member of the Pennsylvania State Women's Golf Association, and Secretary of the Women's Golf Association of Philadelphia. During her volunteer tenure, Barbara was also awarded the Women Golfers Give Back Service Award in 2006.

For nearly 20 years, Barb supported the Helen Sigel Wilson Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Golf Tournament as both a fundraiser and a tournament volunteer. An additional distinction was being appointed to the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Fund Board, and in 2012 she and Bill were honored with the first-ever J. Wood Platt Bill and Barbara Walsh Distinguished Service Award.

Once her children were grown and had moved on to college, careers, and marriage, Barbara spent more time golfing, but also discovered a real passion for competitive bridge. She played successful team bridge until shortly before her passing. During the pandemic, she honed her skills playing remotely from home on her iPad, while keeping her mind sharp with daily Sudoku puzzles and Words with Friends. Barbara was persistent until she learned to manage different social media technologies, and was deeply committed to her weekly family group video calls, which began in 2020 and were an invaluable lifeline for her. She was able to share some of her family history, and keep herself apprised of life's important milestones among her children and their families. Her last call was just a few days before her death.

One of Barb's greatest joys was cheering for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Phillies, and the Villanova Wildcats, sometimes loudly and late into the night. Watching golf on the weekends was simultaneously soothing and exciting, and singing in the choirs at St. John Vianney Church in Gladwyne and Church of St. Monica in Berwyn lifted her spirit and allowed Barbara's vocal skills to shine. Her crafting interests were numerous and varied. In her earlier years and beyond, she enjoyed sewing her children's Halloween costumes, creating beautiful decoupage items, framing art prints, and decorating her homes in stylish fashion, to the admiration of all who visited.

Above all else, Barbara was universally loved and respected, not only by her family, but by all who knew her. She was a shining example of kindness, understanding, generosity, tolerance, conviction, style, and grace. She made her own opinions known, but never judged others for theirs. The world is a far better place for her presence in it, and we are richer because she shared that presence, and her immense, boundless love, with all of us.

Visitation will be held at St. Katharine of Siena Catholic Church, 104 S. Aberdeen Ave., Wayne, PA 19087 on Tuesday, June 24th from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and on Wednesday, June 25th from 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM, with Funeral Mass immediately following at 10:30 AM.  Interment will be private at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made in Barbara's name to her favorite organizations: Amigos de Jesús P.O. Box 476 Malvern, PA. 19355 www.amigosdejesus.org or to J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust , Attn: William T. Walsh Endowed Scholarship, 1974 Sproul Rd., Suite 400, Broomall, PA. 19008 www.plattscholar.org