Prayer Requests

I regretfully inform you of the passing of Chuck Walsh’s mother back on April 6. - Ramon Presas, Grand Knight

Even though Chuck currently lives in Houston, he has been a very active member of our council, serving as a trustee for two years and was very instrumental in the the early development of our website. He recently retired from the US Coast Guard after 21 years of d dedicated service.

Chuck, please accept my deepest apologies. Thank you for your service to our council and our country. Know that we, your brother Knights will be praying for the repose of your mom‘s soul.

Isabel H. Walsh ObituaryIsabel Harkness Walsh, age 89, passed away on April 6, 2026, in Corpus Christi, Texas.


Born on November 27, 1936, in Scotland, Isabel was the daughter of Charles and Jenny Harkness and the sister of Charles and Christopher “Kiff” Harkness. She grew up in Scotland and carried with her throughout life a quiet strength, a sharp mind, and a deep faith that never left her, no matter where life took her.


Isabel graduated from the Royal Infirmary School of Nursing in Edinburgh, Scotland, with a Diploma in Nursing and went on to attend Guy’s Hospital School of Midwifery in London. After settling in the United States, she continued her education at the UTMB School of Nursing in Galveston, Texas, earning her Bachelor’s of Nursing in 1984 and her Master’s of Nursing in 1989. Her commitment to nursing was not only professional, but deeply personal.


Isabel began working at John Sealy Hospital in Galveston in 1964, serving in a variety of clinical settings and steadily rising through the ranks to become Night Director of Nursing, where she was responsible for administration of the entire UTMB complex on the night shift. In 1984, she began working at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Hospital, first as a staff nurse, then as head nurse, and later as Assistant Director. She was respected not only for her competence and leadership, but also for her ability to improve morale and reduce turnover among the nursing staff.


In 1992, she made a brief transition to Children’s Hospital as a Nurse Manager before retiring from UTMB and devoting herself to what became one of her greatest passions: teaching nursing at Galveston College and College of the Mainland. To her students, Isabel was more than an instructor. She was a mentor, a role model, and a steady source of encouragement. She challenged her nursing students to become the best version of themselves, and to carry themselves with professionalism and purpose. Even now, nurses throughout the Galveston area remember her with gratitude and affection, and it is not uncommon to meet those who proudly say they were once her student. That enduring influence is one of the clearest marks of her legacy.


She loved cooking, gardening, and was an avid reader before losing her eyesight to macular degeneration. She appreciated hot tea made properly, enjoyed oysters, and loved going to the symphony. She had a special affection for the color purple.


Above all else, Isabel was a woman of faith. A devoted Presbyterian, she placed God and church first in her life. Her church was not merely a place she attended, but a community she loved and served faithfully. She became a lay minister and occasionally led Sunday worship, living out her faith with humility, steadiness, and conviction. Her faith was the foundation beneath everything she did.


In 1965, she married Alan Walsh. Though they later divorced in 1986, they remained friends, and neither remarried. Alan preceded her in death in 1998.


As a mother, Isabel gave her only son a gift both rare and lasting: loving support without smothering, wisdom without harshness, and strength without control. She encouraged his many endeavors, allowed him to fail when he needed to learn, and was always there to help him back up.


Isabel was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Jenny Harkness; her former husband, Alan Walsh; and her two brothers, Christopher “Kiff” Harkness and Charles Harkness.


She is survived by her son, Charles “Chuck” Walsh (and his wife Leigh); and by her beloved grandchildren, Claire, Grace, Charlie, and Frances.


Isabel Harkness Walsh lived a life of faith, intellect, and love. She leaves behind not only a family who cherished her, but also generations of nurses, students, friends, and fellow church members who are better because they knew her.


A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 9, at 11:00 a.m. at Parkway Presbyterian Church in Corpus Christi, Texas, officiated by Reverend Matthew Morse. A reception will follow at Parkway Presbyterian. Isabel’s wishes were to have her ashes scattered at the cross on the hill at Mo Ranch in Hunt, Texas. This will take place at a later date. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Isabel, please visit our Tree Store.