The Townsend family lost the matriarch of their family, the leader of their pack, Dolores E. “Dee” Townsend, died on Monday morning, January 18, 2016, at home surrounded by her loving family following an extended illness.
On October 16, 1935, Dee was born in Iowa City, Iowa, the youngest of four children of the late Ora R. and Marjorie Ann (Soper) Andrews. She graduated from Olin High School in the class of 1953, where she excelled in basketball, helping her team become a two time state champion.
Raised in a small town, Dee fell for one of the young men there, Harvey James Townsend Jr., whom she married on March 12, 1955. Soon thereafter, Dee and Harvey moved to Chicago, then to Marion, Ohio, as he transferred within a trucking company. Together they started their farm on Fairground Road, “C.J. Stables”, which is still proudly run by their family. Dee and Harvey shared over thirty eight years of marriage, and lovingly raised five children. He preceded her in death on November 18, 1993.
In addition to being a loving homemaker, caring for Harvey and their five children, Dee also was the “controller” of the family’s trucking company, Townsend Brother Trucking. According to her family, Dee “did everything except drive the trucks.”
Dedicated to the children of her farming community, Dee was a 4-H adviser for over 44 years, the majority of which with the Echoing Hoofs Club. She also was a member of the Circle M Horseman, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 584, and she was a life member of OWHA.
With a love for the outdoors, Dee loved watching the birds and going arrowhead hunting. But most important of all to Dee was her family! She was her children’s and grandchildren’s biggest fan, never missing anything they were involved in…unless their events overlapped.
Dee touched many lives over the years as a teacher, a listener, a mentor, a friend, and a mother. She will forever be remembered for her strength, wisdom, guidance, and unconditional love, and for her own unique way of speaking her mind. She was one of a kind, and special beyond measure.
She will be dearly missed by her four children: Cathy (Larry) Runyon, Jamie (Bob) Wise, Jay (Tina) Townsend, and Cindy (Phillip) Rollison; a daughter-in-law, Robin Townsend; 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Including her husband and parents, Dee was preceded in death by her youngest child, Jon Townsend; and all three siblings: Ora Mae Pleuger, Ruth Reiken, and Glenn Andrews.
Her family will greet friends from 4 – 8 p.m. on Friday, January 22nd, at the John M. Boler Activity Center, 590 Forest Lawn Dr., Marion. Services honoring her life will also be held there at 11 a.m. on Saturday, with Rev. Pat Street officiating. Burial will follow in Grand Prairie Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice, and they may be sent to the care of the funeral home. Her family would like to extend a heartfelt “thank you” to them for their tender care of their mother and grandmother.
Gunder/Hall & Snyder Funeral Home is honored to have been chosen to serve Dee’s family and your condolences may be expressed to them by visiting www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com.
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