Anita Otillia Townsley

Anita O. Townsley, age 105, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at Brookdale Spicewood Springs. She was born on February 15, 1915 in Fredericksburg, Texas to Hilmar and Ella (Durst) Wunderlich and she was an older sister to Julia. She started school in Fredericksburg, which is where she learned to speak English. As a child, she moved to Austin with her family, where she attended Pease Elementary School. She graduated from Austin High School in 1933.

Anita married her husband Carl Townsley on September 6, 1935. Together they had two sons, Kenneth and Hilmer. She began a career working as a cafeteria worker for AISD. She eventually went on to work for the day care kitchen at First English Lutheran Church, where she was a long-time member. In her retirement years, she enjoyed crafting, quilting, and baking, and she was often heard to say that her secret to a long life was to drink the tap water and recite all of the President’s names.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Julia, her husband, Carl, and her two sons, Kenneth and Hilmer. She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Nellie, her grandchildren, John (DeeAnn), Cissy (Gary), Steven (Kelsey, Samuel (Maggie), and her eight great-grandchildren; Melanie, Matthew, Lily, Jack, Samantha, Hannah, Heidi, and Ian.

Funeral arrangements are pending.