David Lee Townsend, Sr.

David Lee Townsend, Sr., 67, of Springfield, formerly of Moline, died at 4:15 p.m. on Friday, June 30, 2006 at St. John's Hospital Hospice Unit. David was born June 12, 1939 in Davenport, IA the son of Edward Harold and Thora Bernice Dobler Townsend. He married Esther M. Ford in Moline in 1960; they later divorced. David attended public schools in Davenport and Moline, in addition to Roosevelt Military Academy in Aledo. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, serving from 1956-1958 with the 3rd Marine Division in the Far East. David graduated from Sangamon State University with a BA in 1988 and completed 46 hours of graduate work in the area of Organizational Human Resource Development, lacking only the thesis for a Master’s Degree. Mr. Townsend was employed as the City of Moline’s first Housing Inspector in 1964 and as Director of the Moline Housing Authority in 1965. He retired in 2002 from the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, having served as a Clerk, Administrative Assistant and finally Executive Supervisor. David was a Life Member of the Marine Corps League and of AMVETS. He was also the past President of the Illinois Association of Redevelopment Authorities and the Northern Illinois Council of Housing Administrators and National Chairman of Authorities for Local Autonomy. He was a past member of the Jaycees (Director and Treasurer), Rotary Club, Toastmasters (Administrative Vice-President), Boy Scouts (Assistant Scoutmaster, Institutional Representative), Veteran’s Assistance Commission (Alternate Delegate), and the Moline Citizen’s Advisory Committee for Community Development (Past Chairman). He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother: Edward John Townsend. He is survived by two sons: David L. (wife, Debbie) Townsend, Jr. of Corpus Christi, TX; and Mark H.B. (wife, Polli) Townsend of Cordova, IL; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one sister: Shirley P. Ide of Moline; a special niece; four nephews; and an extended family for whom he cared deeply. Cremation was accorded by the Cremation Tribute Center, 917 S. 6th St., Springfield. Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 6, 2006 at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. An additional Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 7, 2006 at Wendt Funeral Home, 1811 15th St. Place, Moline, IL. Burial with military honors will follow at National Cemetery Rock Island Arsenal in Rock Island, IL. The family of David Lee Townsend, Sr. is being served locally by Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield.