Rita Louise Townley

Rita Louise Townley, age 84, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. She was born June 25, 1941, in Jackson, MI and had been a Jackson County resident her whole life. She graduated from Jackson High School and then worked at Ryerson & Haynes until she fell in love with her dentist, Dr. Arthur Townley, and married him in on September 19, 1964. They made a life together at Lake Columbia in Brooklyn and had 3 children and 4 grandchildren. Following Art's death in 2011, Rita moved to Vista Grande the following year. There she met long-time resident Charlie Gilpin, and they married a few years later. They were active residents at Vista until he passed away in 2020.

Rita poured herself into raising her family and loved being a Girl Scout Leader. Two special trips she organized with her troop were to Washington D.C. and Toronto. And each spring, cases of Girl Scout cookies were piled sky-high in the living room waiting to be distributed to her troop members. She also had a soft spot in her heart for Boston Terriers, three of whom were part of the family.

Rita was very involved with extended family, and the family traditions centered around such get-togethers as her annual 12th Night party, Christmas Eve at her sister's, trips to their Harrison cabin, and good times at the lake. An annual trip to Las Vegas with her sister and brother-in-law was also a highlight for her and Art.

Rita was outgoing and always happy to jump into a card game, work on a puzzle, and rake in the prizes playing bingo at Vista. She and Art were active members of a local antique club and collected American Art Pottery. They owned Rookwood Pottery for many years, with production done in their basement and at his dental office. Rita spent countless hours in the basement pouring slip into molds to make the Rookwood figurines.

Rita's favorite activity, and what she was best known for, was cooking. And while she loved to pour over recipe books, she was an intuitive cook who often made up her own recipes. Her signature dish, Mai Mia Goo, was a family favorite, along with her apple and cherry pies. She loved to talk about the year she won the chili cook-off at Vista Grande and proudly displayed her prize of a kitchen apron & wooden spoon.

She is survived by 3 children, Susan (David) McIntire, Arthur Townley III, Dannae (Walter) Kamasis; 4 grandchildren, Arthur Townley IV, Jamie (Jordan Setayesh) Huizinga, Kate (Sam Stewart) Huizinga, Blaine Townley; sisters and brother, Carolyn (Vince) Vincent, Deanna Gumbert, Gerald (Marilyn) Howard; sister-in-law, Elsie Crites. She will also be fondly remembered by her nieces and nephews and their extended families.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Arthur Townley Jr. and husband Charles Gilpin; parents, George Herman and Hilda Helen (Laitila) Howard; brothers-in-law, John Gumbert and Richard Collett.

A celebration of life will be held at Vista Grande Villa on Sunday, February 22, at 2:00pm.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue. https://midwestbtrescue.org/