Lillian G. Townsend

Lillian G. Townsend passed away peacefully in the NY State Veterans Home, Oxford, NY on March 12. 2024 at the age of 94. She is survived by her children and their families-
Donald Bruce Townsend (Nancy), and children Susan (Greg) and Tracey (Alexander); Gordon Duane Townsend and children McCahey (James), Brooke, and Charlotte (Connor); Lucinda Townsend Martin (Dan) and children Matthew (Brittany) and Samantha (Leonard); and three great grandchildren: Jones Geiger, Lachlan Molineaux and Devin Martin; children of Lillian's sister, Virginia: Ginger Bowman Maker, Thomas E. Bowman, and C. Grainger Bowman and their respective families.
Lillian was born in Philadelphia, PA to Chester A. Grainger and Elsie M. Roberts on February 7, 1930. She had two older sisters, Mary (half) and Virginia. The family lived in Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin during much of Lillian's childhood before finally settling in Bala Cynwyd, PA when Lillian was 13 years of age. Lillian graduated from Lower Merion High School where she was known for her beautiful alto singing voice and huge smile. Lillian went on to attend Duke University, graduating in 1951 with a degree in Sociology. In college she sang in the University Choir and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. During her senior year, she married her longtime sweetheart (whom she had met in her 8th grade ballroom dancing class), Donald H. Townsend (pre-deceased August 19, 2023).
Lillian and Don raised their family in Devon, PA and lived there for over forty years. Her family attended Wayne United Methodist Church where Lillian was also a leading member of the choir. A member of the Junior League, Lillian volunteered driving cancer patients for treatment. She also was a member of a professional singing trio – "The Housewives" – who sang for various events in and beyond the Philadelphia area. The trio toured the Far East during the Vietnam war entertaining servicemen and women as well as locals in Japan, Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines. Lillian also spent time working in the alumnae office at Baldwin School, in various retail positions and had a very successful career as a real estate agent working for Fox and Lazo and then ReMax.
In 1999, Lillian and Don retired to Hamilton NY. They were members of the First Baptist Church in Hamilton where Lillian served as treasurer for many years and was a faithful member of the choir and the Christian Women's Fellowship group. Lillian also was a proud member of the James Madison Chapter of the NSDAR and served that organization as its treasurer and Vice Regent.
Lillian enjoyed attending hundreds of music and sporting events for her children and her grandchildren. She had a fierce love of family, especially for her husband of 72 years, Don. She will be sincerely missed by her family.
A Memorial Service will be held on May 26,2024 at 3:00 PM at the First Baptist Church in Hamilton NY and a reception will follow at the church. Donations may be made in her name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or to the First Baptist Church Deacon Fund, PO Box 73, 27 Broad St., Hamilton NY 13346. Her final resting place will be at the Wayne United Methodist Church Memorial Garden in Wayne PA. Arrangements entrusted to Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, Hamilton NY.