Wilma B. (Billie) Walsh, 91, of Riviera Beach, passed away on April 26, 2023, in her home.  She was born on September 12, 1931, in St. Henry, Ohio, to Frank J. and Iola A. Zahn Brunswick.   She was named Wilma, but was known to her friends and many of her relatives as Billie throughout her life.

    Billie grew up in the huge brick house on the family farm just outside St. Henry.   She felt blessed and always expressed her pride and joy at having gotten her early education at the one-room schoolhouse, aptly named The Home School,  just across the road from the family’s lane.   She graduated from St. Henry High school and went on to graduate from St. Elizabeth School of Nursing, Dayton, Ohio, in 1953.   She worked as a caring Registered Nurse well past retirement age.   She lovingly cared for several children other than her own in their home for many years.   She thoroughly enjoyed volunteering at The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, and also volunteered for many years with literacy programs in Palm Beach County.    She was an avid reader, readily sharing favorite books; in her later life, her love of reading led her to name her beloved pets after favorite authors, the first being her cat, Binchy, for Maeve Binchy, the Irish novelist.  Her intelligence never faded, she never lost her spunk, and her sense of fun added much to the lives of so many.   Her wisdom and sharp wit will be sorely missed.   

    On September 6, 1958, Billie married the love of her life, Paul (L. Paul) Walsh, in the St. Henry Catholic Church on the Main Street in the village. On that day, she adopted a lifelong love of all things Irish, and visited Ireland often, making many friends on both sides of the Atlantic along the way.   Paul preceded her in death in January, 2012, after their marriage of 54 years.   Surviving are children, Susan (Jeffrey) Souza, Kevin Walsh, Pauleen Walsh, and son-in-law Tim Calhoun.   Also surviving are her beloved grandchildren, Jason (Abigail) Souza, Christina Souza, Adam Souza, Kelly Jacobson, Kelsey (Kyle) Intoppa, Michael and Jill Calhoun, and Patrick Calhoun, as well as eight great grandchildren. Sadly missed until the day of Billie’s own death was her and Paul’s dear daughter, Sheila Calhoun.   Surviving back in Ohio are her brother Dennis Brunswick and sisters Betty Jutte Singer, Lou Ann Kremer, and Janice (Don) Gagel: brother Jerry Brunswick is deceased.   Also surviving are Paul’s two sisters, Sister Helena Walsh and Magdalen Burken.      

    Friends will be received on Thursday, May 18, from 5 to 7 PM at Northwood Funeral Home 5608 Broadway, West Palm Beach.   A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 13591 Prosperity Farms Road, Palm Beach Gardens.     

    In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests donations in Billie’s name to  The National Kidney Foundation of Florida, now at 5756 South Semoran Blvd.,  Orlando, Florida  32822.