Nora Ann (Walsh) Ludwig
Nora Ann (Walsh) Ludwig, age 52, of Plain City, Ohio, passed away at her home on Tuesday, February 4, 2020, after a long battle with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD).
Nora was born on February 6, 1967 in Shelby to Rita B. (Tretter) and Richard D. Walsh, Sr. She was a 1985 graduate of Shelby High School and attended The Ohio State University Mansfield Branch and North Central Technical College from where she graduated.
While in college, Nora was a sales clerk at O’Neil’s Department Store where she met her future husband, Don. Don and Nora were married October 26, 1991. In that same year, Nora began working for a medical center at The Ohio State University where she was a medical secretary until 1995.It was through connections at the medical center and her strong work ethic that she was recommended for a position with The Columbus Chill, a professional ice hockey team in the East Coast Hockey League. She worked for The Chill until the arrival of The Columbus Blue Jackets in 2000. Nora transitioned from The Chill to The Columbus Blue Jackets, working as a staff accountant, where she was still currently employed.
Nora was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Plain City where she faithfully attended Holy Hour and Eucharistic Adoration. As an avid bird watcher, Nora relished traveling annually to Maumee Bay for The Biggest Week in American Birding. She volunteered her time for the Plain City Historical Society, loved daffodils, and enjoyed races at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with her husband, Don.
Nora always put others before herself. She was loving, kind, and will be missed dearly by her husband: Don Ludwig; her mother: Rita B. (Tretter) Walsh of Shelby; her siblings: Richard D. (Jo-Ann) Walsh, Jr. of Vestavia, AL, Maury (Beth Lenoble) Walsh of Dublin, Diane Bortner of York, PA, Dave (Nita) Walsh of Shelby, and Regina (Rob) Viers of Courtland; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Nora’s father, Richard D. Walsh, Sr., preceded her in death.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 29 West Street, Shelby on Saturday, February 8, 2020 at 10:30 AM with Fr. Greg Faulhaber, her cousin, as celebrant, Fr. Chris Mileski concelebrating, and Deacon Tony Bonacci as homilist. Burial will follow in Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Cemetery. Public Calling Hours will not be observed. Memorial contributions may be made to PKD Foundation, P.O Box 871847, Kansas City, MO 64187, or online at www.pkdcure.org/make-a-donation.
Care for Nora and her family is being provided by the Penwell Turner Funeral Home, 168 West Main Street, Shelby. To share a memory or express a condolence, please visit: www.PenwellTurner.com
Nora was my best friend in high school. We were clarinet band mates and had a lot of fun together! I’m glad she’s free of her pain and suffering. I’m so glad she was part of my life. To Don and her family, God bless you all.
Dear Rita and Walsh families I am deeply sorry for your loss. Just remember all the good times. God keep and bless you at this difficult time. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Jim and Joni Young
Don, Rita and Family;
Please accept my deepest condolences. Nora will forever be in mine and my families memories from her kindness and friendship. Praying for comfort and peace through this difficult time.
Kevin Baird
Dear Rita & family,
So sorry to hear of Nora’s passing. Please accept our sympathy. Prayers for all of you during this difficult time. Wanda Harris & Jayne Browning
Rita, I am so sorry for your loss. I pray that you are blessed with many sweet and precious memories in the days to come.
Edna, Fred and Leah and Sarah Karnes.
I had the great privilege of working with Nora for the past 20 years with the Blue Jackets and she will be missed greatly by all of us here. When I was hired in 2000, I made a comment in a story in the Mansfield News Journal about being the only person from a Northern Ohio League school (Galion) to work in the NHL.
Shortly after that, I found out that Nora was also an NOL alum and graduated from Shelby the same year I graduated from Galion. We both attend OSU-Mansfield and had mutual friends & acquaintances. She even shared some high school reunion photos with me several years ago of people I’d lost contact with over the years.
While we didn’t know each other back then, I am very grateful that I got to know Nora these past 20 years here. My prayers for strength and condolences go out to all of Nora’s family and friends. Rest peacefully, Nora!
I worked closely with Nora for the first 11 year with the Blue Jackets and it was a joy to work with such a sweet, gentle and kind soul. I know I’m a better person today from having known and worked with Nora. My condolences to her family.
For the past 20 years I’ve had the privilege of calling Nora a coworker and friend with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Certainly one of the kindest and friendliest persons I’ve ever known. She would always ask how my kids were doing and later on my granddaughter Lucy. I will miss our conversations in the CBJ lunch room and our regular “hellos” when passing one another in the office. Rest in Peace, sweet Nora.
I taught Nora at St. Mary’s School in Shelby as her 5-8 Language Arts teacher.
What a wonderful girl and student she was! I always thought of her as a perfect example of Mary to the other students. She was kind and caring, as well as smart. I’m sure her adult years proved this to be true too. I am so sorry to hear of her passing. My sympathy to her family.
Dear Rita and Family,
My sincere condolences to you and your family on the passing of Nora. I remember the times her and Cathy were up to no good In the growing up years of grade school and high school. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.
I was blessed to work with Nora for 11 years, what a kind, wonderful soul. She would always want to know about your family and how you were doing. I always appreciated Nora laughing at my stupid stories or jokes. I pray for her family and friends to find peace and know they have an Angel in heaven.
Rest in Peace, Nora
So very sorry to the Walsh family at the death of Nora. She was a member of a very special family and will always be remembered. Prayers for your family.
My heart is broken for the loss of Nora. Over 30 years of wonderful memories from a trip to Florida and Universal Studio’s, seeing different caves, feeding the birds in the backyard, many lunches and dinners, to her decorating the house for every holiday. Don and Nora were good for each other and supported each other during good times and tough times. Nora loved hockey at both the Chill and the Blue Jackets and enjoyed the players and staff. She had a huge heart, liked to laugh and brought joy to so many people. One of my favorite memories was when we all went through the car wash in my convertible and the seal on the top broke and water dumped on Nora in the back seat. We laughed about that for years. Hugs, prayers and love to the whole family. My world was better because of Nora.
I am so sad to hear of Nora’s passing. She was only a few years older than me but was my babysitter when I was younger as we were blessed to grow up across the street from her and my parents still live across from Rita. I was happy to have seen her a few years ago at Rita’s birthday at Kingwood center. I will never forget her blue eyes, her great laugh and perpetual smile. She was just a great person and an old soul. May God bless her family and my prayers are with you all.
Rita, Richard, Maury, Diane, Dave and Regina –
I have fond memories of family picnics, the kids playing outdoors on Taylortown Road and New Year’s Eve at the Walsh’s.
Please know our family is here if you need anything and we are keeping all of you close in our thoughts and prayers.
– Janet, Drew, Jeff, Marijan and Meredith
Nora was one of a great group of girls that all hung tight together through elementary school at St. Mary’s into High School. Many of us moved away, but tried to stay in touch through reunions and social media. We had so many fun sleepovers at the “cool house” on Redbird Lane. She will fondly be remembered for her very long beautiful hair! We may have even sneaked out to “ding dong ditch” a few of the neighbors back in the day! Nora was a fun friend, but also a caring and generous friend. I have no doubt that she will be missed by all who knew her. My condolences go out to her family and friends.
Don and the Walsh family, I am so sorry to learn of Nora’s passing. I was lucky enough to be able to have Nora as a friend for nearly twenty years—it wasn’t enough time, but it never would have been. As everyone who knew her knows, Nora was one of the kindest and most genuine people you will ever meet. She was also one of the funniest, and had a laugh that made everyone smile. I will cherish the laughs and good times we had over the years, and the antics we used to pull at the Chill games. But I will greatly miss my friend, as she was the best one anyone could have ever had.