August 8, 1963 - March 16, 1985

Sheila Marie Walsh, 22, died at Grant Hospital in Chicago, IL, Sunday, March 16 of injuries she sustained in an accidental fall.

Sheila Marie Walsh was born in Ames on August 8, 1963 to Sonia (Sunny Clausen) and Robert Walsh. Dr. Walsh was an Ames High graduate (Class of ’53), as are Sheila’s siblings (sister Susan – ’80; and brothers Mark – ’84, Matt - ’86 and Mike – ’88). Sheila graduated from Ames High in 1981; her life was cut short tragically in 1985.  Sheila graduated from Ames High School in 1981.  She attended the University of Kansas, studying child life specialty, and was completing her senior year at Iowa State University through an internship at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago.

She was a member of St. Cecelia's Church and a member of the Chi Omega sorority.

Survivors include her mother, Sunny; a sister, Susan Walsh of Kansas City, MO; three brothers, Mark of Omaha, NE, Matt and Mike of Ames; and her grandmother, Mrs. Mark Walsh.  She was preceded in death by her father in February 1982.

Her heart, lungs, kidney, cornea and liver were donated for transplants at Grant Hospital in Chicago.

The friendship that Sheila and her girlfriends at Ames High shared was so unique that their story was turned into the bestselling book, “The Girls From Ames.”

This scholarship was created by Sheila’s 10 best girlfriends to give a female Ames High School student the opportunity to pursue higher education. The $1,000 scholarship will be awarded annually to an Ames High senior with a 3.0 GPA or better. The recipient will be nominated by her friends, and one key qualification is that she be a good friend to others at Ames High — just like Sheila was.

A portion of the proceeds of the sale of “The Girls from Ames” will fund this scholarship.

To contribute to this fund, please make your check payable to the Ames Education Foundation, and mail it to:

Ames Education Foundation, 415 Stanton Avenue, Ames, Iowa 50014. Please include a note that the donation is for the Sheila Walsh scholarship. Many thanks.

GREAT THANKS TO THE BOOK CLUBS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DONATED TO THE SHEILA WALSH MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP. THE AMES GIRLS ARE TOUCHED BY YOUR GENEROSITY.