Bernice Elizabeth Pool Townshend

TOWNSHEND, Bernice Elizabeth Yingling

BERNICE ELIZABETH YINGLING TOWNSHEND (nee POOL) was born in Carroll County on October 16, 1919 to Peyton Herschel and Icydeane Easton Pool. She had four brothers who have all predeceased her. Her family moved to the Pool dairy farm on Cherry Tree Lane when she was a little girl. She attended Bethesda United Methodist Church, taught Sunday School, and sang in the choir. She attended school in Carroll County and graduated high school.

She married her first husband of 47 years, Norman C. Yingling, on May 1, 1941 and they lived in the country for a couple of years before moving to an apartment in Baltimore City. She held several jobs during WWII including a retail clerk, factory worker, and secretary. When Norman returned from overseas, they bought a new home on LaPlata Avenue in the city where she lived the rest of her life. She was a secretary for her brother's insurance company for many years and took care of her mother and father in their later years. She had two dogs that she loved dearly, Prince and Angel. Bernice was a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church. She loved to travel with close friends, Betty, and Russell Barr, especially to Ocean City, Maryland. Her husband of 47 years passed away on December 28, 1989.

She met Woodrow "Woodie" W. Townshend, Sr. in May of 1990 when she was 73 and he was 76. They dated for three years before marrying on February 26, 1993. Woodie had quite a large family including six children, several brothers and sisters, many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. They traveled much on a cruise, trips to the Carolinas and Florida as well as many local day trips. She was included in family reunions, birthday, and holiday parties. He passed away Christmas Day, December 25, 2009.

She was ill last year suffering from breast cancer and had a mastectomy and radiation treatment. She was strong through the fall and early December and handled the passing of her husband with grace and dignity during the holiday season. After the first of the year, she was feeling poorly and fell down early one morning. She was taken to Sinai Hospital and after several days she was moved to St. Elizabeth Rehabilitation and Nursing Center where she resided for the next three weeks.

On Sunday, March 21st, BERNICE ELIZABETH YINGLING TOWNSHEND (nee POOL), beloved wife of two late husbands, Woodrow W. Townshend, Sr. and Norman C. Yingling, and a deceased stepson, passed away. She is survived by numerous nephews and nieces, five stepchildren, numerous step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, March 25th from 2 - 4 p.m. and 6 - 8 p.m. at Burgee-Henss-Seitz Funeral Home, Inc., 3631 Falls Road. Funeral services are scheduled for Friday, March 26th at 10 a.m. from the funeral home. Interment to follow at Druid Ridge Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Bethesda United Methodist Church, 326 Klee Mill Road, Sykesville, MD 21784 or Catholic Charities, 320 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201.

Guest registry available at www.burgee-henss-seitz.com.