John William Townsend Jr.

Funeral services for John William Townsend Jr. will be Friday, May 6, at the Frist United Methodist Church in Jackson, Tenn., with the REv. Dr. Paul Clayton and the Rev. Dan Comp officiating.

Burial will follow in Ridgecrest Cemetery.

Visitation begins at 1 p.m. in the Disciple Hall.

He was born November 30, 1926 to John W. Townsend, Sr. and Jessie Sessions Townsend in Miami, FL. He moved to Troy, AL in 1930. He joined the Navy in 1944 and served on the USS Mount Olympus; the ship the invasion of Japan was planned on, and then conducted the Japanese Landing on September 2, 1945. He graduated from Auburn University in 1949 with a Textile Engineering Degree and soon began his career in Textile Manufacturing with the Bemis Company in Bemis TN on January 1, 1950. He retired as the Vice President of Operations in 1983. During that time he received their “President’s Award”, supervised the construction and operation of a mill in Honduras, and traveled the world in the course of his business. He was preceded in death by daughter Ann Townsend Poole. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Doris Blake Beasley Townsend and 3 children: Celia Townsend Clifft and her husband David, Terri Townsend of Memphis TN, and James Townsend of Jackson TN, and 4 grandchildren: Cory Clifft, Lindsay Poole Dillingham, Taylor Ann Townsend and Ross Townsend. He also leaves behind sisters Dorothy Townsend Hellerstedt of Honolulu, HI and Nancy Townsend Baumann of Fullerton, CA. He was a member of First United Methodist Church where he has served on various boards, as Treasurer, MPS Conference Trustee, and helped with the Music for Esteem program. He was a member of Toastmasters for over 25 years, served the Boys Club, Rotary Club, Veterans Post 1848 (Vice Commander, Treasurer, various committees), and served as long time member of Youth Town of Tennessee Executive committee, where he was granted a Lifetime membership in 2008. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling, bird watching, gardening (especially flowers), traveling and telling jokes. He was passionate about his family, church, profession, The Bemis Company and the Bemis community. His wife has been his best friend and sweetheart since they were 5 years old. He often said “she gives my life purpose”.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials are sent to Youth Town of Tennessee or the First United Methodist Church.

George A. Smith and Sons Funeral Home, Jackson, Tenn., is in charge of arrangements.