Marjorie Townsend

January 11, 1924 - January 11, 2017

Marjorie Lowry Townsend, 93, died peacefully in her sleep on her birthday, January 11, 2017. She was born in Lakeland, Ohio on January 11,1924 to Lillian and Donald R. Lowry. She was raised in Flushing, New York and Great Neck, Long Island. She graduated from the Dana Hall School, then went on to Bennett Junior College where she earned her Associates in Arts degree, majoring in Fashion Design. After college she continued her studies at Tobe Coburn School for Fashion Careers, the first school to specialize in fashion merchandising. Marge was very talented and part of a team of students who designed patterns used to make women’s suits marketed to high end stores. Marge went on to work as a department manager for Lord & Taylor.

Marge often vacationed in Eagle’s Mere, PA where she met the love of her life, Donald Louis Townsend. They were married for 66 years until his death in 2014. She is survived by their four children and three spouses including Donald L .Townsend, III, Elizabeth Bennett Townsend and Bert Bennett, Madeleine Townsend Mandelbaum and Eric Mandelbaum, and Stephen R. Townsend and Tracy Townsend, her eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren, with a baby on the way.

Marge was a devoted Mother and Wife who was not only a wonderful homemaker and cook, but a great home entertainer. When she was not sewing dresses for her daughters, and carpooling to swim or tennis practices, Marge was taking artistic, eye catching photographs, many of which won awards in local shows. She could also be seen walking and taking photos at her beloved Greenwich Point. Marge also had a real talent for gardening where she grew colorful perennials and beautiful roses.

Giving back and service to the community was a high priority for Marge, who volunteered at Greenwich Hospital and the Bendheim Cancer Center. She also dedicated herself to St. Paul’s Church in Riverside, where for several years she was head of the Altar Guild. Marge, who was always ready to lend her services where needed, will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her for the steadfast and dedicated concern she expressed for those in her life.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at St. Paul’s Church, 200 Riverside Avenue, Riverside, CT on January 21, 2017 at 1pm. A gathering will be held directly following the service at Innes Arden Golf Club, 120 Tomac Avenue in Old Greenwich. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made to The Bendheim Cancer Center through the Fund For Greenwich Hospital or the Covenant House, New York.