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Linda Rae Cox-Townsend

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Iowa Wesleyan University

Linda Cox-Townsend Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Jul. 27, 2016.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Linda Rae Cox-Townsend will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Ranfranz & Vine Funeral home.

Linda was born Sept. 22, 1950, in Des Moines, to Robert and Shilo Townsend. She grew up in Altoona, Iowa, and graduated from South East Polk High School. She earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Iowa Wesleyan University and went on to earn a Master of Divinity degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. She married Dennis Cox on June 7, 1979. They lived in Wells, Minn., St. Clair, Minn., Plainview, Chatfield and Rochester.

Before starting a family, Linda worked with battered women and abused children. Although she began to experience the effects of a degenerative neuropathy as a young adult, Linda refused to let it slow her down any more than she had to. Even after her disability limited her mobility to a wheelchair, she maintained an active and productive life.

Linda enjoyed cooking, baking and canning ,and never shared her recipe for real mincemeat. She was a voracious reader who also liked to travel and particularly enjoyed cruises. Linda was an avid horsewoman and competed nationally in show pleasure driving, winning many first-place ribbons with her beloved horse, Chelsea. She recently established Chelsea Meadows Equestrian Center in Oronoco.

Linda lived for others and believed whole-heartedly in the principle of "paying it forward." She freely took in anyone needing a place to live and "adopted" anyone who needed a mother, grandmother or friend.

Linda passed from this life on June 23, 2016, after years of battling chronic pain and declining health. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Linda is survived by her husband, Dennis; her daughters, Blair and Beth; her best friend, Peg Tennant; her sisters, Carol Lawson and Debra (David) Lind; several nephews and nieces; and a wide circle of friends.

Suggested memorials include the Easter Seal Society and the American Heart Association.

Arrangements are handled by Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.