John V. Townsell, Jr.

John Vincent Townsell Jr., age 89, passed away unexpectedly on November 18, 2025, in Everett, Washington. To his grandchildren, he was "Ompa" and "Opa."

In a recent conversation with his wife of 66 years, Sharon O'Grady Townsell, John said all he ever wanted in life was to be happily married with a family. During that reminiscence, he said that he'd had a wonderful life. John was always a gentleman, had a big heart, and was one to reach out with a helping hand - and good advice. Since his early years, he developed lifelong friendships with classmates, neighbors, coworkers, and fishing buddies. He had never met a stranger - only future friends.

John lived his life with steadiness and integrity. His immense gratitude for life was beyond words. He asked for little, worked hard, and loved his family. He was deeply loved and will be forever missed.

John was born June 20, 1936, to John V. Townsell Sr. and Louise K. (Schultheiss/Townsell) Wright on a farm in rural Cherryvale Township, Kansas. He attended Cherry Valley School and St. Francis Xavier Catholic School. He graduated from Cherryvale High School in 1953, then attended Coffeyville Junior College, Kansas State College, and Wichita State University. John began his career at Continental Can in Coffeyville, Kansas. He started his engineering career at Boeing-Wichita, where he worked on the B-52 Bomber. While with Boeing-Wichita, he worked on the NASA Saturn V Rocket (New Orleans, Louisiana) and the Apollo Moon Rocket (Redstone Arsenal, Alabama). During this time, John also served his country in the Kansas Army National Guard as a well-respected company commander.

In 1968, John transferred to the Boeing plant in Everett, where he worked on the 747 aircraft and SST supersonic jet programs. After the "big Boeing layoff of 1971," he went to work at Martin Marietta in Denver, Colorado, where he worked on the NASA Viking Mars Lander program. In the summer of 1973, John accepted a position at Western Gear in Everett, which permanently returned the family to Washington. In 1978, John returned to Boeing-Everett, where he retired from in 1993. After retirement, John and Sharon worked as contract engineers on the F-16 program at McDonald Douglas in St. Louis, Missouri.

John married Sharon O'Grady on January 31, 1959, at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Wichita. The couple raised five children, all born in Wichita: Teresa, Paula, Brad, Beth and Tonya.

After retirement, John and Sharon spent many years wintering in Mexico. They also traveled to Thailand, India, Ireland, Great Britain, Belgium, Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Greece, Costa Rica, Canada, and throughout the United States. John was proud of his ancestry and gained dual U.S.-Irish citizenship. John was an engineer, avid reader, artist, carver, ukulele player, outdoorsman, angler, and fly-fisherman, and a founder of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Sausage Festival. He belonged to the Evergreen Fly Fishing Club, Washington Fly Fishing Club, Coulee Region Trout Unlimited, and many other outdoor and conservation organizations. He was honored to participate in Project Healing Waters for veterans. John and Sharon had the privilege of helping raise their granddaughter, Katie Townsell, which brought them much joy.

John is survived by his wife, Sharon; five children: Teresa, Paula (Christopher Glans), Brad and Elizabeth "Beth" Townsell of Everett, Washington, and Tonya Townsell of West Salem, Wisconsin; three grandchildren, Carsten and Connery Glans of Everett, Washington, and Katherine "Katie" Townsell of West Salem, Wisconsin; brothers-in-law Michael O'Grady (Windy) of Vallejo, California, and Bob Housel of Cherryvale, Kansas, and sister-in-law Karon (O'Grady) Hansarik (Joe) of Texas. He is survived by many nephews and nieces and was especially close to his Moon nephews and niece, and their families.

Preceding him in death were his infant daughter; his parents, John V. Townsell Sr. and Louise K. (Schultheiss/Townsell) Wright and stepfather William "Shorty" Wright; in-laws Lary and Ivalee (Hill) O'Grady; sisters Leola and Helen Townsell, Mary "Moonbeam" (Townsell) Moon, Margarette (Townsell) Stacy, and Rose (Townsell/French) Housel; brothers Gerald, Raymond and Richard "Dickie" Townsell; brothers-in-law Sy Moon, Lary "Bud" O'Grady, Don Stacy and Johnny French; and sister-in-law Delores O'Grady.

A private family gathering will be held this summer. Those wishing to contribute in John's honor may choose his favorite organization, Project Healing Waters, or their favorite outdoor conservation organization.