Virginia Morgan Townsend

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 30, at Westminster Gardens Cemetery, 3601 Whitehurst Road.

Virginia was born March 24, 1926, in Columbia, SC, daughter of the late Rev. Dr. Francis Grover and Letitia Doak Morgan. Her father, a professor at Lenoir Rhyne College from which Virginia graduated, was very influential on her becoming connected to the community there. She and her husband were missionaries. At seven months pregnant, she and her husband moved to Argentina without knowing how to speak the language, not having the communication technology we have today, and made a life there for 17 years. Upon return to the United States, she taught 4th grade at Wentworth Elementary in Rockingham County. Rev. and Mrs. Townsend moved to Weehawken, NJ, where they served a bilingual congregation. When they retired, they returned to North Carolina, where they settled in Greensboro. She was an active member of First Lutheran Church, Greensboro. She enjoyed reading, quilting, and storytelling. Her family was her greatest joy.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Townsend was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. N. Earl Townsend; daughters, Amalia and Alicia Townsend and all of her siblings. She is survived by her children, Rebeca Townsend and husband, Bruce Resnicoff, Sara Townsend, Margarita Throop and husband, Michael, Paul Townsend and wife, Carol, Martin Townsend and wife, Arlene; 10 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Also surviving are other members of a loving family.

Memorial contributions in Virginia’s memory may be made to Lutheran World Relief, PO Box 17061, Baltimore, MD 21297.

Hanes Lineberry North Elm Chapel is assisting the Townsend family. Online condolences may be offered at www.haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com.