Robert S. Townsend

Robert S. Townsend, age 83, passed away on Friday, November 18, 2016 following a long period of declining health. He was preceded in death by his parents Marie Greenhalgh Townsend and Robert A. Townsend, his older sister Ethel Biggart, and his late wife, Geraldine Sullivan Townsend. He is survived by his wife, Sallie Mitchell Townsend, originally of Hickory, NC.

Born on November 29, 1932 in Brooklyn, NY, Bob attended St. John’s Prep and then Brooklyn College. Growing up in New York, he loved the Brooklyn Dodgers and went to their last game at Ebbet’s Field. He joined the US Navy and served during the Korean War. Following his discharge, he moved to Washington, DC with his wife and three children.  He was an HVAC engineer and worked for several engineering firms and in 1989 started his own firm with a fellow engineer in Reston, VA. Bob met and married Sallie Mitchell in 1986 and they lived in Reston, VA until he retired from KTA Associates in 1999. They moved to Morganton in 2002 into the home he had designed and had built.

Bob and Sallie enjoyed snow skiing, favoring western U.S. ski areas, and travelling to beautiful areas such as Ireland, France and the Greek Isles among others. When travelling in the States they enjoyed staying at B&Bs as he relished meeting and talking with other travelers. He loved different music genres, Civil War history, reading, and working in his workshop. He enjoyed watching professional football on Sunday afternoons and in the off season of football, enjoyed golf tournaments even though he wasn’t a golfer.

When Bob and Sallie lived in Reston, VA, Bob was very active in the small Methodist church they attended, both in deepening his faith and in church functions. Bob was an active member of the First United Methodist Church here in Morganton serving in several capacities over the years and an active member of the Aldersgate Sunday School class. He was a member of the Morganton Kiwanis Club and enjoyed serving as a volunteer for several years at Grace Hospital. 

He is survived by his wife, Sallie of thirty years; his three children, Joanne and Kevin Cawley of Maryland, Bobby and Emily Townsend in Virginia and Cathie Belanger; of Ohio; grandchildren Ryan, Lauren, Kyle, Christopher and Sara, and two great grandchildren Richard and Ethan.

The cryptside service will be held at 2:30 pm, Sunday, November 27, 2016 at the columbarium at First United Methodist Church.  The celebration of Bob’s life will be held at 3 pm in the sanctuary of the church with Rev. Dr. John Fowler and Rev. Charlotte Brendel officiating.  The family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall following the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 200 North King Street, Morganton, NC 28655 or to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.