Gladys Walsh, 97, of Paducah stepped through Heaven’s gates into the arms of Jesus, September 9, 2025, surrounded by her family.
Gladys was born May 27, 1928 to Samuel and Prillie Owens in Hornsby, Tennessee where her young life was spent working in cotton fields with her family. The family moved to Paducah in 1944 where she spent the remainder of her 97 years.
In 1950 she met the love of her life, Handsome Jack Walsh. They married in June of 1951 and spent the next 68 years together. She worked for Bell South Phone as a long-distance operator until the children were born. Then she became a homemaker. Jack & Gladys raised three children, Vickie, Tom and Vanessa. Gladys loved nothing better than being outside either working in her garden, and playing yard games with her children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and neighborhood children.
Gladys was a member of Bellview Baptist Church for over 70 years where she served working in the nursery, Bible School, and her Ester Ladies Sunday School Class where it was her job to keep the ladies laughing.
Besides her parents, Gladys was preceded in death by her loving husband, Jack, her daughter Vanessa; sisters: Hilda Floyd, Thelma Isbell; brothers, Herb and Howard Owens and infant sister, Nona Sue.
She is survived by two of her children Vickie Hall and Tom (Jane); grandchildren: John Thomas, Joseph and Lee Ann & 6 great-grandchildren, several nieces & nephews.
Funeral services will begin at 11 am Saturday, September 13, 2025 at Hughes Funeral Home in Paducah with Rev. Larry Davidson & Rev. Bob Whitter officiating. Burial to follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Paducah.
Visitation with family will welcome friends and family to gather Friday evening from 6 pm to 8 pm at Hughes Funeral Home.
Memorial Contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.
