John P. Townsend

John was born in Westfield, NJ and lived in Spring Lake, NJ before retiring to River Bend, NC. He was the owner of Townsend Trucking Company for thirty years and worked part-time at New Bern Country Club. He served in the U. S. Army and was a Veteran of the Korean War. John was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and River Bend Golf and Country Club. He was an avid golfer.

John is preceded in death by his parents, Henry P. and Anna Callahan Townsend and son-in-law, David G. Palmgren.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Helen Byrne Townsend; daughters: Colleen McCormick and husband, Thomas D. of Madison, CT; Carolyn Rafferty and husband, James of Rochester Hills, MI; Cynthia Palmgren of Holden, MA and Christine Abbott and husband, Edward of Leesburg, VA; brother, Robert Townsend and wife, Linda of Mt. Pleasant, SC; fourteen grandchildren and two great grandsons.

A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, June 30, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul Catholic Church. Interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday, June 29, 2012 at Cotten Funeral Home from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul Catholic Church, 3005 Country Club Road, New Bern, NC 28562.