Obituary for William Townsend
William Martin "Bill" Townsend
William Martin "Bill" Townsend passed from this earth after a short illness at the English Village
Manor in Altus, Oklahoma, on february 6, 2018, at the age of 82 years, 16 days. He was born to
Willie Frances Townsend and Hazel Lee Foster Townsend on January 20, 1936, in
Slaughtersville, Kentucky, the oldest son of ten children.
Bill joined the United States Air Force at the age of 17 and retired from the Air Force in 1976
with the rank of Master Sergeant after 24 years of service. While stationed in France in 1954, he
married the love of his life, Francoisse Gertrude Alezeta, a native of Alsace-Lorraine, on October4, 1954, in Verdun, France. They were blessed with three children, Elizabeth Michelle, Michael Willie, and Nicolas Jean. during his military career Bill was stationed in France, North Carolina, England, Thailand during the Vietnam War, Maine, Louisiana, and retired from Altus,
where he and Francoise chose to make their home.
After retirement form the Air Force, Bill developed his business skills selling cars before Boeing
lured him into a second career to work in Saudi Arabia because of his expertise in aircraft safety.
After retirement from Boeing, Bill returned to Altus where he and Francoise especially enjoyed
the company of a group of military husbands whose wives were all European expats. Bill and Francoise celebrated 59 years of marriage before Francoise died on November 12, 2013.
In retirement Bill was active in the VFW, serving as Commander of Post 4876 for two years.
Family was important to Bill. Throughout his career, Bill continued to encourage and support
his family back in Kentucky, making numerous trips to maintain connection to encourage and support his family back in Kentucky, making numerous trips to maintain connection to his roots. He also
supported Francoise's trips to France to be with her family. Bill enjoyed coaching basketball and being a booster of traveling football teams and spending time with his children and grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Francoise, and sisters, Mary Carter, Jeanette Carter and Anna Greenwell.
He is survived by his brothers Terry Townsend, Larry Townsend, and Edward Heerdink all of Henderson, Kentucky, his sisters Patricia Elliston, Linda Sawyer, and Pam Brown all of Henderson, Kentucky, his daughter Michelle Masters and husband Mark of Jacksonville, Florida, son Michael Townsend of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and son Nicolas Townsend and wife Laurin of Weatherford, Oklahoma, grandsons Mason Masters, Mitchell Masters, and Miles Masters of Jacksonville, granddaughters Chantelie Katlin Townsend and Jessica Lauren Nellis of Oklahoma City Oklahoma, and Catherine Francoise Townsend and Joyce Elizabeth Townsend of Weatherford, Oklahoma, and great -grandchildren Abby Nellis, Charles Nellis, Remington Nellis, and Kylie Townsend and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Sunday evening, February 11, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Lowell-Tims funeral home in Altus.
A mass of Christian burial will be held at the Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Altus at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 12, , with interment to follow at Altus City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Jude's Children Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
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William Martin "Bill" Townsend passed from this earth after a short illness at the English Village
Manor in Altus, Oklahoma, on february 6, 2018, at the age of 82 years, 16 days. He was born to
Willie Frances Townsend and Hazel Lee Foster Townsend on January 20, 1936, in
Slaughtersville, Kentucky, the oldest son of ten children.
Bill joined the United States Air Force at the age of 17 and retired from the Air Force in 1976
with the rank of Master Sergeant after 24 years of service. While stationed in France in 1954, he
married the love of his life, Francoisse Gertrude Alezeta, a native of Alsace-Lorraine, on October4, 1954, in Verdun, France. They were blessed with three children, Elizabeth Michelle, Michael Willie, and Nicolas Jean. during his military career Bill was stationed in France, North Carolina, England, Thailand during the Vietnam War, Maine, Louisiana, and retired from Altus,
where he and Francoise chose to make their home.
After retirement form the Air Force, Bill developed his business skills selling cars before Boeing
lured him into a second career to work in Saudi Arabia because of his expertise in aircraft safety.
After retirement from Boeing, Bill returned to Altus where he and Francoise especially enjoyed
the company of a group of military husbands whose wives were all European expats. Bill and Francoise celebrated 59 years of marriage before Francoise died on November 12, 2013.
In retirement Bill was active in the VFW, serving as Commander of Post 4876 for two years.
Family was important to Bill. Throughout his career, Bill continued to encourage and support
his family back in Kentucky, making numerous trips to maintain connection to encourage and support his family back in Kentucky, making numerous trips to maintain connection to his roots. He also
supported Francoise's trips to France to be with her family. Bill enjoyed coaching basketball and being a booster of traveling football teams and spending time with his children and grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Francoise, and sisters, Mary Carter, Jeanette Carter and Anna Greenwell.
He is survived by his brothers Terry Townsend, Larry Townsend, and Edward Heerdink all of Henderson, Kentucky, his sisters Patricia Elliston, Linda Sawyer, and Pam Brown all of Henderson, Kentucky, his daughter Michelle Masters and husband Mark of Jacksonville, Florida, son Michael Townsend of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and son Nicolas Townsend and wife Laurin of Weatherford, Oklahoma, grandsons Mason Masters, Mitchell Masters, and Miles Masters of Jacksonville, granddaughters Chantelie Katlin Townsend and Jessica Lauren Nellis of Oklahoma City Oklahoma, and Catherine Francoise Townsend and Joyce Elizabeth Townsend of Weatherford, Oklahoma, and great -grandchildren Abby Nellis, Charles Nellis, Remington Nellis, and Kylie Townsend and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Sunday evening, February 11, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Lowell-Tims funeral home in Altus.
A mass of Christian burial will be held at the Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Altus at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 12, , with interment to follow at Altus City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Jude's Children Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
To send flowers in memory of William Townsend, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Funeral Service
Monday
12
Feb
10:00 AM
Prince of Peace Catholic Church
1500 Falcon Rd.
Altus, OK 73521
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