Thomas Clarence Townsend

Thomas Clarence Townsend, 83, of Mission Meade Road, died Friday, January 11, 2013 peacefully at his home after a lengthy illness. He was born in Seattle, WA in January 1929, the son of the late Thomas and Gertrude (Dorsey) Townsend, who adopted him when he was five moths old. He graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School in Seattle and played semi-professional baseball for a season in Vancouver, British Columbia. Returning to the United States he enlisted in the Navy where he served nine years during the Korean War. He was stationed in San Diego, CA and in Japan where he played baseball for the Yokosuka Seahawks and taught English to public works interns. After being honorably discharged from the Navy he moved to California where he worked as a draftsman for the Army Corp of Engineers and the Department of Agriculture and later managed stores for the Ortho Mattress Company in California.

He married his wife, the former Marianne Davis, in 1977 and they had 36 wonderful years together, traveling around the world to over 50 countries. She survives in New Castle. He enjoyed photography, classical music, playing pool and poker with his friends from Challenges and was a long time Oakland Raiders fan.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Thomas and Michael Townsend. He is survived by two daughters, Katherine McIntyre and Mary Mally, nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren all of California. The time he spent with granddaughters Danielle, Shana, Jennifer and Natalie was a great joy to him.

There will be no visitation at his request. A celebration of his life and scattering of his ashes at sea in California are planned. Arrangements are by the William F. & Roger M. DeCarbo Funeral Home, 926 Cunningham Avenue and Memorials at Sea in Sausalito, CA. Memorial contributions can be made to Jameson Hospice.