Mary Hildebrand Walsh died on February 27, 2021 in Skillman, N.J; she would have been 99 in April. Mrs. Walsh was born in Greenville, KY to the late Bess (Procter) Hildebrand and William Alfred Hildebrand. She was predeceased in 2018 by her husband, W. James Walsh. Mrs. Walsh attended the University of Louisville before deciding to move to New York City to pursue an acting career after World War II. She left drama school in New York to become a model at Bergdorf Goodman’s custom-made department and modeled in high fashion shows for many years.
Mrs. Walsh met the love of her life at a party in New York City. She and Jim were married in 1950 and resided in Upper Montclair, N.J. After marriage she raised three children, continued her modeling career and pursued her interest in the theater by working with the Junior League’s Children’s Theater in Montclair, N.J. In 1969 Mrs. Walsh and her family moved to Princeton, N.J. where she was a long-time member of the Present-Day Club, the Dogwood Garden Club, the Nassau Club and the Nassau Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Walsh was most recently a resident of the Stonebridge Montgomery retirement community in Skillman, N.J.
Mrs. Walsh is survived by her three daughters and their husbands (Cynthia Walsh and Rene Milo, Diana Walsh and Paul Magnin, and Jennifer Walsh and Bernard Wharton), five grandchildren (Alex, Christopher, Tyler, Kayleigh and Zach) and two great grandchildren (Jayden and Lily).
Arrangements are under the direction of the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.