John P. Townley

1924 - 2016

John P. Townley, formerly of Deerfield Beach, FL, died on February 9 at home with his son Michael and his family in South Plainfield, NJ. John was born and raised in Plainfield, NJ. He and his late wife, Gloria, returned to New Jersey in 2010 from a 35 year retirement in Florida to live with Michael, his wife Janet, and their son, Jack. John was the former fire chief for the City of Plainfield, having begun his career in 1946 after proudly serving his country during World War 2 as a United States Marine. His wartime service was spent in the South Pacific, surviving battles on Guadalcanal, Guam, and Iwo Jima. John was a prime example of the saying "Once a Marine, always a Marine." It was a badge of honor that he proudly wore every day of his life. In 2015, he was privileged to ride as a guest of honor in the John Basilone Medal of Honor Memorial Parade in Raritan. John was a founder of the Florida Half Century Softball League and spent many years playing softball with the Deerfield Beach Over Fifty, Over Sixty, and Over Seventy teams, among others. He and Gloria enjoyed the many friends they made at softball tournaments all over Florida. He was elected to the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame in 2000, an honor that he cherished. John leaves his sons, John and Donna in Sugar Land, Tx; Michael and Janet of South Plainfield; and Jim and Anne of Wycoff, NJ; eight grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in John's memory be made to Food for the Poor, 6401 Lyons Rd., Coconut Creek, FL 33073 or www.foodforthepoor.org. Arrangements are by Higgins Home for Funerals in Plainfield. www.higginsfuneralhome.com.