Billie Townsend Shepherd

Taylor Road

Columbus, Indiana

Billie Townsend Shepherd, 90, of Columbus, died Thursday, May 26, 2011, at Columbus Regional Hospital after a brief

illness. She was a resident of the Four SeasonsRetirement Center, after moving from her home at 2706 Washington Street in 2009.

Born in Hayden, IN., Sept.9, 1920, the only child of Grant Burkett Townsend and Mary Jane (Heaton) Townsend, she grew up in Crothersville, IN., where she met and married Rev. David M. Shepherd, her husband for 47 years, until his death in 1986. As a Methodist minister’s wife, Mrs. Shepherd lived in many places in Indiana – Crothersville, Hope, Manila, Morristown,

Linton, Aurora, Columbus, Indianapolis, and back to Columbus, in retirement. She served as choir director, organist, director of education and Sunday school teacher in most of the churches the Shepherds served, making many close and lasting

friendships in all of those communities. Mrs. Shepherd was an interior designer for many years, with one of her commissions being the Eli Lily executive offices in Indianapolis. She was an avid and talented writer of poetry and music, both classical and spiritual, which have been performed many times locally and around the state by both herself and others. She gave several programs each

year to various groups and organizations. She was past president of the Tri Kappa Sorority of Indianapolis, received a Governor’s citation for her work as president in organizing the largest local Mental Health Association in Indiana, and held various offices as a member of many civic, academic and religious clubs, organizations, and societies. She was a very active member of

First United Methodist Church in Columbus.

Survivors include her son, Daniel T. Shepherd and daughter-in-law, Nancy Anne Russell Shepherd of Lake Worth, FL; grandsons, Daniel T. (Jeanne) Shepherd II of Vero Beach, FL, and Chadwick R. (Tonya) Shepherd, of Wilmington, NC; great-grandson, Reilly V. Shepherd of Wilmington, NC and great-granddaughter, Audrey Anne Shepherd of Vero Beach, FL.

Mrs. Shepherd was preceded in death by her parents, Grant B. and Mary Jane Townsend, and her husband, Rev. David M. Shepherd.

The funeral will be conducted at 1p.m. Wednesday, June 1, 2011, at the First United Methodist Church, 618 Eighth Street, Columbus,

IN, with the Rev. Gary Schaar and Brian Campbell officiating. Family and friends may call at Hathaway-Myers Chapel, on Pearl Street,

Columbus, IN, from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31, 2011, and at First United Methodist Church from 12 noon until service time

Wednesday. Burial will be at Garland Brook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church