Thurston Townsend

He is preceded in death by his wife, Dean H. Townsend; parents, Charles and Elmina Townsend; brothers, Charles Townsend and Jamie Townsend; daughter-in-law, Dinah Estrada Townsend (wife of Rickey).

He is survived by his sons, Rickey Townsend of Cordova, Tennessee; Tracy Townsend (Stacey) of Duncanville, AL; William Townsend (Darlene) of Florence, AL; Charlie Townsend (Valerie) of Odenville, AL; grandchildren, Charity McCaslin, Courtney Eads (Aaron), Kara Townsend, Taylor Bohl (Jordan), Shelby Jacobs (Matthew), Brady Townsend, Ginnie Townsend, Harrison Townsend, and Cooper Townsend; great-grandchildren, Cameron Caldwell, Sadie Blake, Ellie Grace, and Mattie Reece Jacobs and Holden Bohl.

From paperboy to soldier to preacher to prison guard, Thurston Townsend's nine plus decades on this planet have been full. He was born in Tuscaloosa at the start of the Great Depression, growing up in a four-room house with eight family members. He began working at eight years old, selling papers to help his family. After graduation from Tuscaloosa High School in 1950, he joined the United States Army, later serving in the Korean War, where he distinguished himself as a leader and was awarded the Silver Star. Shortly after the war, he became an officer with the California Department of Corrections and worked in this position for over two decades. He returned to Tuscaloosa in the 1970s where he raised his sons with his wife and the love of his life, Dean H. Townsend, whom he had married in 1963. They were married for 54 years, until her death. Thurston worked for the Tuscaloosa News and the ARC of Tuscaloosa County until he retired at the age of 75. Thurston filled a room when he entered, but also made others feel they were more important than him. He loved sharing time with family and friends, and was always there to support, help and encourage them. He had a special knack for focusing on their interests, rather than his. The only thing he loved more than his family was the Lord. He accepted Jesus Christ as a personal savior at age eleven and surrendered to preach years later. He and Dean planted two churches while in California. He will always be remembered for his witnessing to others and his "amens" when moved by the Spirit. He will be greatly missed for all who knew him for his love, advice, and smile.

Pallbearers are Rickey Townsend, Tracy Townsend, William Townsend, Charlie Townsend, Brady Townsend, and Cooper Townsend.

Honorary pallbearers are Circlewood Baptist Church; former co-workers at the Tuscaloosa News and the ARC of Tuscaloosa County; Joe Davis; Ira Smith; Dollan and Vicki Davis; Bobby and Carol Owens.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Circlewood Baptist Church building fund.

A visitation for Thurston will be held Friday, October 6, 2023 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Circlewood Baptist Church, 2201 Loop Rd, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35405. A funeral service will occur Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 11:00 AM, 2201 Loop Rd, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35405. A burial with military honors will occur Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 11:30 AM at Memory Hill Gardens, 2200 Skyland Blvd East, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35405.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemoryChapelFuneralHome.com for the Townsend family.