Dorothy "Dee" Windham Wilkinson Townsend

"A very funny, spirited and artistically talented Southern lady, Dorothy Wilkinson Townsend died peacefully on January 25, 2019. A resident of Port Allen and Baton Rouge, Dorothy was born August 3, 1931 in Lena, MS to Neva McMurphy and Claude Windham in their family home. During WWII the family moved to Lake Charles where she attended Lake Charles High School. Upon graduation, she attended Southwest Louisiana Institute "“ now called University of Louisiana "“ Lafayette, where she met her husband of 40 years, William Douglas Wilkinson. Several years after his death she married Marshall L. Townsend in 1997 and enjoyed another 20 years with someone she loved. Retail was a big part of Dorothy's world. She was the owner of The Katydid, a retail shop that specialized in Louisiana hand-crafted articles such as cane split baskets and handmade quilts. Dorothy spent many years as a manufactory's rep calling on retail gift shops and furniture stores. As a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, she lent her retailing talents to their gift shop that she ran as a volunteer for many years. Dorothy was a member of the Junior League of Lake Charles and Baton Rouge. Known as Dee to her grandkids, she loved to play card games. Whether it was for quarters or Hershey kisses, gambling was involved, debts settled, and the rules were followed; even, if she made a lot of the rules up as she went along. She was a loving grandmother who was always ready to attend a ball game, dance or piano recital and school function. Preceded in death by her parents and siblings, William Raiford Windham and Grace Elizabeth Glaze Davis. Descendants surviving her are her children Doug Wilkinson, Brian Wilkinson and Cade Nichols; their spouses Anna Blaize Wilkinson and Daniel Nichols; eight grandchildren, Lauren, David, Joelle, Eamon, Cazzie, Scott, Sarah and Amanda; and, nine great grandchildren, Patrick, Audrey, Windham, Oliver, Maddox, Charlotte, Colin, Ronan and Luna. Pallbearers will be David Wilkinson, Ryan Wilson, Dan Dehon, Dan Nichols, Scott Nichols and Patrick Wilson. Visitation will be on Thursday, January 31, 2019 at 10 am at St. Luke's Episcopal Church (8833 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806). A funeral mass will follow at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.