Obituary: Finley Jerome Townsend Jr.
Finley Jerome Townsend Jr.June 04, 1931 - April 15, 2009Finley Jerome Townsend, Jr.77, passed away on April 15, 2009 in Kirkland, Washington. He was born on June 4, 1931 in Banner Elk, North Carolina.Viewing will be held on Friday, April 24th from 10:00 AM - 8:00PM and April 25th from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM at Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home.Graveside service will be held on Saturday, April 25th at 3:00 PM at Washelli Cemetery. Reception following. Funeral InformationViewing will be held on Friday, April 24th from 10:00 AM - 8:00PM and April 25th from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM at Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home.Graveside service will be held on Saturday, April 25th at 3:00 PM at Washelli Cemetery. Reception following.

Richard S. Townsend
Died Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Nov 27, 2008

Richard Shane Townsend, 17, of 11 Riddle Court, Axton, died Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008, at Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center, Sevierville, Tenn.

Norris Funeral Services and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Nov 30, 2008

Richard Shane Townsend, 17, of 11 Riddle Court, Martinsville, died Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008 at Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center, Sevierville, Tenn.

He was born August 13, 1991, in Martinsville to Richard James Townsend and Hope Canupp Townsend.

He had attended Martinsville High School and had been on the school wrestling team. He was of the Christian faith and attended Stone Memorial Christian Church.

He was an organ donor through the University of Tennessee tissue bank.

In addition to his parents of the home, surviving are a brother, Eric Christopher Townsend of Stoneville, N.C.; maternal grandparents, Frank and Helen Canupp of Martinsville; paternal grandparents, James and Alma Townsend of Martinsville; and paternal great0grandmother, Mary Johnson of Elizabethton, Tenn.

A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at Norris Funeral Services Chapel with Minister Tim Wood officiating.

The family will receive friends from 4 until 6 p.m. Monday at the funeral home and at other times at the home.

Richard J. Townsend
Died Friday, March 6, 2009
Mar 9, 2009

Richard James Townsend, 49, of Martinsville, died Friday, March 6, 2009, at his home.

He was born on Oct. 12, 1959, in Elizabethton, Tenn., to James Townsend and Alma Clawson Townsend.

He was preceded in death by a son, Richard Shane Townsend.

He served as a Marine and was a member of Stone Memorial Christian Church.

Surviving in addition to his parents, of Martinsville, are his wife, Hope Canupp Townsend of the home; a son, Eric Christopher Townsend of Martinsville; a sister, Mary Jane McKinney of Elizabethton; two brothers, Guy Townsend of Hurdle Mills, N.C. and Charles Townsend of Virginia Beach; a maternal grandmother, Mary Johnson of Elizabethton; and two grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Norris Funeral Services chapel with Ministers Tim Wood and Lawrence Harris officiating.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home and other times at the home, 11 Riddle Court, Martinsville.

Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association, 9221 Forest Hill Ave., Richmond, Va. 23235.

Blanche Townsend

Blanche M. Townsend, age 95, of Banner Elk passed away on Tuesday April 7, 2009 at Life Care Center.


A native of Avery County, she was the daughter of the late Balem and Mattie Ruppard Shook.


Blanche was a member of White Rock Baptist Church.


She enjoyed listening to gospel music, sewing and gardening.


Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by; her husband, Carl Townsend; daughter-in-law, Mary Helen Townsend; and her son-in-law, Kenneth Townsend.


Left to carry on her memory are; her two sons, David Townsend and wife Mary Ruth of Foscoe and Paul Townsend of Banner Elk; and her daughter, Ruth Townsend of Laurel Springs. Four grandchildren and three great grandchildren also survive.


The Townsend family will receive friends on Thursday April 9th from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Friday April 10th at 11:00 a.m. in the Grandfather Chapel of Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home. Rev. Gary Greene will officiate. Interment will follow in the Matney Cemetery.


Words of comfort and memories may be shared with the family and viewed at www.rsfh.net.


Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Newland is serving the Townsend family.

Dick Townsend
Mr. Dick Townsend, 89 of Granite Falls, passed away Tuesday, March 31, 2009, at his residence.
He was born Oct. 26, 1919 in Watauga County, to the late Aaron T. Townsend and Myra Adeline Berry.
Mr. Townsend was a member of Harris Chapel Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Bina Eggers Townsend; daughters, Reba Helms of Granite Falls, and Martha Annas and husband, Jerry, of Granite Falls; seven grandchildren, Melissa Phillips and husband, Eldridge, Susan Wilson and husband, Gwyn, Stephanie Tramble and husband, Andy, Kim Bumgarner and husband, Warren, Tammy Townsend, Jamye Wilson and husband, Adam, and Steven Annas; nine great-grandchildren; and daughter-in-law, Charlene Townsend.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Jack Townsend; six brothers; four sisters; and son-in-law, Gordon Helms.
A graveside service will be held on Friday, April 3, 2009, 11:00 a.m. at the Sunrise Baptist Church with the Rev. Edd Warren officiating. The family received friends on Thursday, April 2, 2009, at Bass-Smith Granite from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Burial will be in the Sunrise Baptist Church Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood St., Lenoir, N.C. 28645 or to the St. Jude’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105.
Bass-Smith Granite is serving the Townsend family.

Charles Mack TownsendObituary
Mr. Charles Mack Townsend, 84, of Banner Elk, the Dutch Creek Community, died Saturday morning, March 14, 2009 at home.
He was born in Watauga County, Oct. 31, 1924, a son of the late Isaac Enzer and Clemmie Byrd Townsend.
Mr. Townsend was a retired carpenter and farmer and was a member of Clarks Creek Baptist Church.
Surviving are one daughter; Wanda Cline and husband, George; two sons, Charles Edward Townsend and wife, Lorene, and Larry Dale Townsend, all of the Dutch Creek Community; one sister, Beulah Gregory of Angier, N.C.; three brothers, Robert “Bob” Townsend of Vilas, Johnny Townsend of Foscoe and Bill Townsend and wife, Rachel, of Valle Crucis; one sister-in-law, Gertrude Isaacs of Banner Elk; one brother-in-law, Truett Coffey and wife, Joyce, of Mountain City; 12 grandchildren, Charlie and Travis Townsend, Marie and Chad Cole, Amy Cline, Scott and Jessie Townsend, Mitchell and Alicia Townsend, Shannon and Alania Townsend, and Rose Marie Hillard; and three great-grandchildren, Mack Able Townsend, Lye Rose Townsend and Abbey Cole; and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Reba Coffey Townsend; one sister; and six brothers.
Services will be conducted Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Clarks Creek Baptist Church, with the Rev. Bill Warren and the Rev. Mike Townsend officiating. Burial will follow in the Clarks Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. The body will lie in state at the church from 1 until 2 o’clock.
The family received friends Sunday evening from 7 o’clock until 8:30 at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be sent to the Townsend family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Townsend family.

Townsend's of Watauga

The Townsend Family of Watauga area of North Carolina have been living in the Clark's Creek, Dutch Creek and Banner Elk areas since the late 1830's. Not much has been mentioned in local history about the family but the development of the communities, churches and schools would not have been so successful without their involvement. The first mill in the Valle Crucis area was built by Andrew Jackson Townsend. The first Seven Day Advent Church was founded by Larkin Townsend and neighbors. He donated the land for the first church to be built on Dutch Creek. Without the labor of many of the Townsend's the Mission School, Highway 194 and the Linville/Boone Railway may not have occurred. The family has branched out in the past 170 some years. Descendants of the original settlers now live all over the US and some in foreign countries. From the Civil war to todays war on terrorism the Townsend Family have served proudly and in some instances given their lives for the freedom we now hold so dear.