Townsend, Richard Lee

Richard Lee Townsend, 77, of Pearisburg, VA, passed away Thursday, May 12, 2022 at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He was born July 11, 1944 in Monterey, VA, the son of the late Gilford Woodrow & Elsie Mae Brown Townsend.

Richard grew up in the community of Mill Gap-Townsend Draft where he graduated from Monterey High School’s Class of 1962. They were beat by the Bland County Rockets in the State Championship Basketball Game that year. He went on receive his Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science and was a proud graduate of Virginia Tech where he received his Master’s Degree in Agriculture Education.

Richard retired as a Virginia Extension Agent after 30 years of service. He was proud of his family farm, the “Walker’s Creek Farm,” and considered farming his second occupation. He was a member of Shady Grove Church. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially with his special hunting buddies, Garland Kelley, Benny Johnson and Russell “Hot Rod” Dennis.

Richard was the acting president of the Hollybrook “ROMEO” Club, (“Retired Old Men Eating Out”) which met daily at Trent’s Grocery.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Gilford Woodrow & Elsie Mae Brown Townsend and his sister & brother-in-law, Roberta Jean & Jackie Terry.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 56 years, Georgia Kelley Townsend; his son & daughter-in-law, Chris & Sherry Townsend; his daughter, Kellie Townsend; his grandchildren, Jacob Lee Townsend, Emilee Rose Townsend, Ellis Kent Shanholtz and Kendra Grace Shanholtz; his brother, Neil Townsend; special niece and nephews, Julie Green, Stephen Terry and David Terry; his beloved rescued pet companions, “Honee,” the dog and “Naughty,” the cat; and numerous cousins, neighbors and friends.

Funeral services will be held Monday, May 16, 2022 at 4:00 P.M. at A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home Chapel, White Gate, with Charles Henderson and Pastor Craig Whittaker officiating. Burial will follow in the Walker’s Creek Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 2:00 P.M. until service time, 4:00 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations can be made in Richard’s honor to either the Giles County Humane Society, 678 Green Hollow Rd, Pearisburg, VA 24134, Shady Grove Church, 202 Forest Hill Dr., Pearisburg, VA 24134, or the Giles County Agriculture Lab, c/o Giles County Tech Center, 1827 Wenonah Ave, Pearisburg, VA 24134.

The Townsend family is in the care of A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home, White Gate, avestandsons.com, (540) 921-2985.