Verna Walsh

Verna Elizabeth Walsh (nAC.e Becker), 95, of Austin, TX, passed away April 27, 2016. Verna was born in Lewiston, NY, on September 10, 1920 to Louis and Alma Becker.

As a young child, she lived on a farm and attended a one-room schoolhouse. Her family eventually moved to Niagara Falls, NY, and she graduated from Niagara Falls High School in 1939. In 1942 she married her high school sweetheart, Burt. She was a wonderful homemaker, and together they raised four children. She was a good cook and enjoyed creating oil paintings, making ceramics, and other artistic pursuits. Above all, she was a great wife and mother.

In 1962, the family moved to the Chicago area so Burt could attend school at DeVry Tech for a year. After he graduated in 1963, the family moved to Long Beach, California, where he got a job working for aerospace contractor North American Aviation as an electronic technician. Later the family moved to El Paso, TX, when Burt was transferred to White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico to work on the launch escape system for the Apollo space program. In 1966, they moved again, this time to Titusville, FL, for his job at Kennedy Space Center. Burt continued working on the Apollo space program during the space race and the moon landing in 1969. Unfortunately, he became ill and died in 1976. Two years later, Verna moved to Austin, TX, to be near her daughter and son and his family. She resided in Austin until her death.

She is survived by her children, Evelyn (George), Douglas (Linda), Nancy (Theo), and Allan; her grandchildren, Paul (Emily), Alyson (Peter), John (Caitlin), George/Billy, Bryn, and Jessie; her great-grandchildren, David, Matthew, Joseph, Anne, and Rachel; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband, Burton J. Walsh; her siblings, Herbert, Louis, Walter, and Irene; and her grandson, Brian.

The family wishes to express heartfelt thanks to the compassionate caregivers at Senior Care at Onion Creek and at South Austin Medical Center during her final days.

She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.