Donald L. Townsend

Donald Loyd Townsend - age 85 of Gallatin, Missouri passed away Sunday, May 5, 2019 at his home from natural causes. Memorial graveside services will be held at the Lick Fork Cemetery on June 23, 2019 at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Gallatin Fire District,  a charity Don supported throughout his life.

Don was born October 13, 1933 in Carlow, Daviess County, Missouri. He was the son of Loyd and Lola Stackhouse Townsend and was the fifth of eight children. He attended High School in Gallatin Missouri where he lettered in football and track. He graduated in May of 1953. He married his high school sweet heart Margaret Smith Townsend on March 6, 1953 and shortly thereafter the couple moved to Kansas City. Don’s first job was rebuilding engines for a car repair shop.

After two years of marriage Don was drafted by the Army but the Navy was short of troops, so he was transferred to the Navy.  He served on an old transport landing craft that was 150 feet long and 50 feet wide designed to carry troops. The ship was very unstable in rough seas and despite this he sailed to Hawaii and on to Japan.  While in Japan the treaty was signed to end the war and when his ship landed back in San Diego he was discharged and took a bus back to Kansas City.

 Don always had fast hands and could build anything.  When he returned from the Navy, he was hired by a cabinet making firm building cabinets. Don was a valued worker but each winter the shop would close for the season. Don decided to go back to school at night to learn the body fender repair business so he could be employed year-round. Upon graduation he went to work at Schneider Ford first and then Smith Ford. After 12 years he went to work at Dales Body Shop in Olathe Kansas. He was an expert in this business and fixed many cars for family and friends at no cost outside his day job.  Don retired in 1995 at the age of 61.

Don was an expert gardener. In 1985 he created a 50 x 50-foot vegetable garden to help teach his good friends the Beck Children how to work.  The children planted seeds, weeded and sold the produce to neighbors over a three-year period. This combined with his famous cat fish pond helped teach many a life lesson of the blessings that come from a strong work ethic and service to others. Don was always there and willing to help a friend or neighbor in need.

Don loved to hunt and loved dogs, especially Brittany Spaniels.  Don and his wife Margaret loved to take their dogs bird hunting for pheasant, chucker and quail. They hunted for the past 43 years at the Lone Pine Shooting Preserve in Toronto Kansas and became life long friends with Mike and Beth Hamman. 

Don is preceded in death by his wife Margaret, his parents, and his seven siblings

Survivors include his nephew Larry Townsend and his wife Martha, and Paul and Debbie Beck very dear and close friends.

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