Karen Margaret French Walsh

September 11, 1950 - October 17, 2024

Karen French Walsh, 74, of Gadsden, AL, died at the University of Alabama-Birmingham Hospital after a sudden illness on October 17, 2024.

Karen was born in Baton Rouge, LA in 1950 to John Donald French and Frances Crouser French.

Karen loved singing and the theatre. She participated in community, school, and college theatre and choir early in life. At Auburn High School Karen was first soprano in the school choir. In theatre, Karen played Rhoda in The Bad Seed (1960), The Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland (1965), and multiple roles and assistant director in AU's A Christmas Carol (1965). Later, when the family spent a summer semester at Penn State University, Karen became costume manager in Time Out for Ginger (1965) at Penn State's Boal Barn Playhouse. Upon returning to Auburn, Karen scored the role of the Witch of the West (1966) in Wizard of Oz at AU Theatre, as well as other productions. Karen received a scholarship to The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, NY. She didn't really like New York and returned to college at Auburn.

The family moved around a bit, Karen attended school in Fort Worth (1st grade), Baton Rouge (2nd grade), and then Auburn City Schools (grades 3 - 12). She graduated with the class of 1968. Later that year she attended The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York (1968), then Auburn University. Karen completed her degree at Jacksonville State University with a BA in Education.

Karen also worked in JOB Corp as a substitute teacher and late in life she became active with OLLI teaching classes in jewelry making.

Karen loved Girl Scouts and had fond memories of summers at Camp Concharty in Shiloh, GA (1964). She was also a bit of an activist - organizing a Vietnam War protest at AU's Bibb Graves Amphitheater in 1968.

Ed and Karen were married in 1976 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Auburn, AL. Ed reminisced about how the ceremony and their honeymoon trip to Disney World seemed like it was yesterday. Tori's growth into an amazing young woman, and her wonderful success in college and now in her professional life brought great joy to Ed and Karen.

Ed likes to reminisce about what he calls "the Gulf Shores years." After our father, John, passed away Karen and Ed took control of his Gulf Shores home. They spent many weekends and weeks there relaxing away from the daily trials and tribulations we all experience. Walking on the beach to dining on great seafood filled their vacations on the beach. They were good times.

Karen was preceded in death by her brother Michael Richard French, her father John Donald French, and her mother Frances Margaret Crouser French. She is survived by her husband Edmund J. Walsh, Gadsden, her daughter Victoria (Tori) Walsh Roberson, Memphis, TN, her son-in-law Daniel Roberson, Memphis, TN, and her grandsons Wes and Jake Roberson, Memphis, TN. She is also survived by her brothers William (Bill) French, Miami, FL, and Robert French, Auburn, AL.

Burial will be a private family service at Memorial Gardens in Auburn, AL on October 26, 2024. In place of flowers please consider a donation to your charity of choice.

A priest from St. Michael's will officiate the funeral. Funeral services are being handled by Frederick Dean Funeral Home.