Elmer E. ‘John’ Townsend, 96, Gays

Elmer E. “John” Townsend, 96, of Gays and formerly of Brownstown, died at 11:46 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 7, 2009, at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Care Center in Coles County.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at Lovins-Lockart Funeral Home in Windsor, with the Rev. Richard Eident officiating. Burial will be in Windsor Cemetery, with military rites accorded by American Legion Post No. 725 of Windsor. Visitation was to be held from 6-8 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Memorials: Windsor American Legion Post No. 725.

Mr. Townsend was born on April 26, 1913, near Brownstown, the son of Lewis and Nellie Frances Williams Townsend.

He served in the Army during World War II and received a Purple Heart. He was retired from Caterpillar Tractor Co., and was a life member of Fairbury Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 9789 and Windsor American Legion Post No. 725.

He is survived by grandchildren, Dennis Quigley and his wife Theresia of Fairbury, Rosemary and her husband Roger Morrison of Windsor, and Sheila Crist of Forrest; great-grandchildren, Stacey and her husband Tony Quigley of Gays, Sean Quigley and his wife Christine of Washington, Amber and her husband Ben Hendrichs of Chatsworth, Chris Morrison and his wife Andrea of Mattoon, Ryan Livingood of Windsor, Courtney Morrison of Windsor and Chelsie Morrison of Windsor; great-great-grandchildren, Madison, Austin, Ethan, Aubrey and Sophia; brothers, Jack Townsend and his wife LaVerne of Mt. Vernon, and Billy Townsend and his wife Linda of Vandalia; sister, Hazel Grames of St. Elmo; and special friend, Susan Phelps of Windsor.

He was preceded in death by a stepdaughter, Mildred Quigley; stepson, Junior Givans; and nine brothers and sisters.

Online condolences may be made at www.lockartgreenfuneralhome.com.