Ronald "Doc" Denniston Townsend

Ronald Denniston Townsend, age 78, passed away on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at UK Bluegrass Hospice Care Center in Lexington, Kentucky. He was born on Sunday, December 8, 1946, in Powell County, Kentucky, to the late Mark Townsend and the late Ollie Townsend. Ronald was a dedicated driller in the oil industry, known for his hard work and commitment to his craft. He also spent time as a logger, embracing the strength and beauty of nature in every aspect of his life. An avid outdoorsman, Ronald found immense joy in fishing and hunting, often spending weekends immersed in the serenity of the wilderness. He had a passion for vegetable gardening, nurturing his plants with care and patience, reaping the rewards of his labor with fresh, homegrown produce. Ronald loved his dogs; they were his loyal companions on many adventures. With an infectious energy and an outgoing personality, he had a remarkable ability to strike up conversations with anyone he met. Ronald had a genuine warmth that enveloped those around him, making strangers feel like old friends. Always ready to lend a helping hand, Ronald would go above and beyond for others, embodying generosity to the core—he would literally give you the shirt off his back if you were in need. In addition to his parents, Ronald is preceded in death by five brothers: James Townsend, Rodney Freeman Townsend, Alton Townsend, Johnny Ray Townsend, and Eugene Townsend; three sisters: Ruth Frazier, Joyce Caudill, and Lilly Townsend. He is survived by one brother: Alvin Townsend of Beattyville; three sisters: Gearld Dean South of Ohio, Callie Faught of Stanton, and Juanita Charles of Stanton; one son: William Ronald Townsend of Dayton, Ohio; one daughter: Stacy Lynn Hall of Dayton, Ohio; and five grandchildren: Olivia Townsend, Amber Blaze Townsend, Lou Ann Hall, Starla London Angelo, and Brooklyn Hall. Visitation will be held from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at Hearne Funeral Home, 125 West College Avenue, Stanton, Kentucky. Funeral services, officiated by Wesley Hale, will be held at the funeral home at 1:00 P.M., immediately following visitation. Burial will be held at Doc Townsend Cemetery in Stanton, Kentucky, with Jacob Hettich, Bryan Faught, Jason Shane Charles, Otis Campbell, Aaron Dailey, and Jay Dailey serving as active pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Doug Wagner, Chester Crabtree, Cebert Townsend, and Marvin Charles. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hearne Funeral Home of Stanton.