Donald Lee Townsend passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 2nd, 2023 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado. He was 84 years old.
Don was born on June 25th, 1938 to Blanche (Rains) and Lee Townsend in Bakersfield, California. He attended his early school years in Arkansas, and graduated from high school in Denver, Colorado.
After high school, he joined the army and was posted in northern Japan. He also married his first wife, Verlaine, and they had two children. They later divorced.
After the army taught him some very early computer processing, he went to work for Lockheed Martin and worked on programming the Titan missiles. Later, he worked many different jobs involving the data processing industry. In 1988, he moved to Kelso Tennessee with his new wife, Lou Ann (Fishering) to establish the Elk River Canoe Rental business.
They sold the business in 1998, and Don retired at the very early age of 60, and they relocated to Delta, Colorado.
Don was a devoted Mason, and was a member of Jacques DeMolay Lodge #171, Montrose Lodge #63, and an honorary member of Fruita Masonic #120.
In his younger days, Don was also a Shriner, and a 4-H leader. He held season tickets for the Broncos for a number of years, and was an avid Yankees fan. When he and Lou Ann married, she gave him the gift of travel. Together, they traveled the world, with many adventures. He loved feeding the birds, and always had a feeder out on April 15th for the local hummingbirds. His house has a plant room, with some plants over 20 years old.
Don is survived by his loving companion, Rae McAdam of Delta; step sons John (Nancy) Fishering, of Montrose and Greg (Priscilla) Fishering of Montrose; step daughter Kathy (Michael) Day of Grand Junction; seven step grandchildren, eleven great step grandchildren and one on the way.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, his son Michael Townsend, his daughter Sherri Townsend, his brother Jimmy Townsend, a baby sister, and his wife, Lou Ann.
View the internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at:
www.taylorfuneralservice.com
Services will be held at 2:00PM Saturday, February 11th, 2023 at Taylor Funeral Services Delta Chapel with graveside services at the Delta City Cemetery.