Obituary of Joan Katherine Walsh

Joan Kathryn Walsh, 86, formerly of Valatie, passed away on August 15, 2020 at Brookdale Fillmore Pond in Bennington, VT where she had resided for the past few years. Born June 3, 1934 in Indian Lake, NY, she was the daughter of the late Donald and Leda (King) Betts and stepfather, Arthur Locke. She graduated from Indian Lake Central School and attended Albany Business College. She held several secretarial positions over the years, including a job with Senator Bernstein at the State Senate in Albany many years ago, as well as at CICU in Albany, Bennington College in VT and Questar in Schodack. Joan was a volunteer member of the Valatie Rescue Squad for many years, serving as an EMT, secretary, driver and billing clerk, which were positions that she was very proud to have served in and for which she received the DeWitt Clinton Award for Community Service. Joan was a loving Mom and Gramma, always ready to run errands and watch her grandchildren. She loved watching NASCAR (#48 Jimmy Johnson) and visited Orange County Choppers for her motorcycle fix. In spite of her Alzheimer's diagnosis, she was still smiling and spunky up until a short time ago. She is survived by 4 daughters, Laurie (Patrick) Carr, Lonie (Jim) Sharp, Tamara (Michael) Kipp and Tonya (Leigh) Alpart, 2 sisters, Sandra (Tom) Armstrong and Daphne (Steve) Pearson, grandchildren Jake, Jody and Luke, Erika and Garrett, Monique, Shawn, Leanna and Michael; great grandchildren MacKenzie, Riley, Taylor, Brooke and Hunter, as well as several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Herbert Walsh, her sister and brother-in-law, Sheila and Jack Bonesteel and her granddaughter, Kayla Wilson. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at the Clare Bridge Memory Care Unit where Joan lived in Vermont and also the VNA and Hospice of Bennington for their kind and compassionate care. A wake will be held on Friday, August 21st from 5-7 p.m. at Bond's Funeral Home in Valatie, NY. Burial will be at St. John the Baptist Cemetery at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Valatie Rescue Squad would be welcomed.