John Joseph Walsh and Antoinette (Toni) Marie Wegler were married in Holy Matrimony on March 3, 1962, at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Buffalo, N.Y.
He is the son of the late John and Rose Walsh and has three siblings: Maryann, Diane, and Tim. She is the daughter of the late Anthony and Estelle Wegler and has a brother, Bob.
At the time of their marriage, he was age 22 and she 20. She was a long distance telephone operator for AT&T and he was a laboratory chemist at Union Carbide. He retired from Union Carbide (OSi/Witco) after 36 years of service to the company. She is a career homemaker, raising four children, all of whom are college educated.
The Walsh's began their marriage living in North Tonawanda, N.Y., where their sons, John Anthony, Patrick Andrew, and Michael Joseph, were all born between 1963 and 1966. The family lived for a short period of time in Tarrytown, N.Y. before moving with Union Carbide (Sistersville, W.Va.) and settling at Marietta, in 1967. In 1973, daughter Jennifer Marie was born at Marietta. Marietta has been the Walsh's home for 45 years.
They have been active members of St. Marys Catholic Church since arriving in Marietta. Over the years, they have also put tremendous time and effort into the St. Marys Catholic and Marietta Public Schools, especially in the athletic and music programs. He has also been a key figure in the Marietta theatrical and musical community, very significantly so between 1968 and 1984. He co-authored the Marietta historical musical, "Bold Bank, Soft Stream," which was performed publicly during the U.S. Bicentennial. The Walsh's have also been involved in numerous community efforts over the years including, The Sternwheel Festival, The Bicentennial, The Colony Theatre Restoration Project and Marietta High School Booster Clubs to name a few.
The Walsh's children, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren are: John and Darlene (Fluharty) Walsh, Emily and Caroline; Pat and Debbie (Kuroski), Courtney and Alexis; Mike and Lisa (Dennis), Kyrie and Mallory; and their baby, Jenny.
