Services celebrating the extraordinary life of Alton Lloyd Townsend, 92, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at Trinity Baptist Church, 527 Howard Street, Natchitoches, LA with Bros. Bill Hines, Butch Rogers, and Josh Curry officiating. Interment will follow at Springville Cemetery in Coushatta, LA at 2:30 p.m. The family will receive friends on Friday, January 31, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home, 848 Keyser Ave, Natchitoches. Friends may also visit at Trinity Baptist Church prior to the service beginning at 9:00 a.m.
Alton Lloyd Townsend, (aka Jelly, Honey, Pa, Pa-paw, Twinkle-toes, Mr. T., Papa Bear, and Al) was born on August 31, 1921 in Wimple, LA. He took his final flight on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 and joined those who preceded him in death: his parents, Claude Hobson and Nelia Beaird Townsend; two brothers and two sister-in laws, Louis Claude and Vera Fussell Townsend and Larry Davis (Hot Shot) and Happy Keegan Townsend; one brother-in-law, Edward J. Hart; three wives: Dorothy V Sledge Townsend, Doris (Dollye) Beard Townsend, and Ferrol Jerienne (Jean) Brown; one son: Alton Lloyd Townsend, Jr.; and two special long-time lady-friends: Willa Vee Barker of Natchitoches and Elizabeth Gunn of Montgomery, La.
Left to cherish many happy times and loving memories are: one sister, Claudine T. Hart of Shreveport, La.; one daughter-in-law: Dr. Karen Townsend Gordy of Orange, TX; two daughters: Catherine (Cathy) T. L'Herisson and husband Charles of Garland, TX and Leta T. Garner Brown and husband Ron of Natchitoches; three granddaughters: Desiree (Desi) Benitez Cortez and husband Monty of Gorum, La., Alecia L. Fulenwider and husband Lance of Dallas, TX and Michelle Kilgore Reynolds and husband Michael of Orange, TX; two grandsons: Christopher (Chris) Alton Townsend of Keithville, LA and Monte L'Herisson and wife Sarah of Garland, TX; eight great-grandchildren: Katie Benitez of Ruston, La and fiancé Jonathan Cooper; Ezra Cortez; Victoria and Cody Fulenwider; Lila Grace, Maxwell, and Finley Reynolds; and Chase Townsend; long-time housekeeper and friend of the family: Rose Williams; special grand-puppies: Sandi and Buddy-Boy Brown and grand-kitties: Bella and Callie; numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews; and a host of friends.
Alton lived in Baton Rouge, on two separate occasions; he also lived in Covington, Colfax, Arcadia, Coushatta, and Shreveport before returning to live in Natchitoches approximately 22 years ago.
In high school, Alton turned down the opportunity to attend Annapolis because he did not think the Navy or a military life was for him---at the time, no one he knew of had a military career. He wanted to go into agriculture like his father.
As a walk-on tackle on the football team and a junior at NSU, Alton heard about the bombing of Pearl Harbor as he came out of First Baptist Church on Second Street, in Natchitoches, on a Sunday morning in December of 1941. After the Northwestern Normal (now Northwestern State University) football team won the Conference Championship, two months later, in February 1942, Alton, along with all his teammates went off to fight in WWII. Alton went to Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana, and enlisted to enter the Army Air Corps.
Alton was called back in March and sworn in as buck private in the Army and awaited cadet training in the Air Corps. He started Pre-flight Training at Kelly Air Field in San Antonio, TX in April; in July of 1942, he was sent to Grider Air Field in Pine Bluff, AR for Primary Flight Training where he served for approximately 3 months; in September, while still in Pine Bluff, he married his sweetheart from Red River Parish, Dorothy V Sledge; in October he was sent to Randolph Air Base back in San Antonio, TX for Basic Flight Training (Oct, Nov, Dec); then to Ellington Air Base in Houston, TX for Advanced Flight Training (multi-engine); in February 1943 Alton was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He received Tactical Training from February until September in Greenville, SC at Greenville Air Base.
In September 1943 Alton was deployed to India and then ordered into China where he was stationed at Kwelin. As a pilot he flew the B-25G (a B-25 with a cannon in the nose). He wanted to be a fighter pilot, but at 6'2" he was too tall!
On November 10, 1943, as a co-pilot on a low altitude mission over Yochow, China, Alton and a crew of 5 others were shot down and captured by Japanese and held in a Chinese prison camp for 10 days. Because of the treatment the Chinese received, Alton and the crew were grateful to be Americans! The six American prisoners were taken down the Yantzee River by boat at which time the Americans bombed the boat, not knowing Americans were on board; 2 of the 6 member crew escaped the boat---one drowned and one was picked up by a fishing boat and returned to the Japanese who had to move the prisoners to another boat to continue down river. They were interred at the Allied Prisoner of War Camp at Shanghai, China. Later the Japanese transferred Alton and his remaining crew with 1000 to 1100 other prisoners of war packed in rail cars through Manchuria to Korea and then in the hull of a boat crossing the Sea of Japan from China to the Northern Island of Japan, Okido.
Alton was kept in captivity for approximately 22 months until the war ended. While in captivity, as an officer, he worked on a farm. (Enlisted men had harder work.) Alton was repatriated in September 1945 at Okido and flew out of Sapuro (capital of Okido) to the Philippines, then traveled by ship across the Pacific to San Francisco. Alton got home in October 1945.
Alton earned 5 medals for his military service: World War II Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Medal, Prisoner of War Medal, and the Purple Heart Medal. In more recent years he received the Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal from Governor Bobby Jindal.
After the war Alton utilized the GI bill to attend LSU where he earned his Masters in Vocational Education and Agriculture. Later, he earned his Masters plus 30 at NSU. He worked for LSU Agriculture Extension Service in St. Tammany, Grant, and Bienville Parishes; and later as a sixth grade teacher and Media Specialist for the Red River Parish School Board.
While working as a County Agent in Grant Parish, dignitaries from Indonesia visited the U. S. and were exposed to agriculture through Alton's job. He was offered the position of Secretary of Agriculture---in Borneo---he declined!
Alton was a soldier, a pilot, a basketball coach, a high school teacher, an Agricultural Extension Agent, a 4H Leader, a cattleman, an elementary school teacher, a horseman, a School Board Media Specialist, a gardener, a hunter, a fisherman, a Deacon, a Sunday School teacher, a nurse, and a caregiver. He was a kind neighbor and a loyal friend. He was the Duck Master at the infamous Memphis, TN Peabody Hotel. And he raised and fed hundreds, if not thousands of mallard and wood ducks on Cane River.
He was a devoted son and spouse, a kind nephew, a thoughtful grandson, a loving brother, a favorite uncle, and a "kissin' cousin". He was a strong, Christian father and, at times, was also a surrogate mother, especially to his youngest daughter. He was a proud grandfather and an even prouder great-grandfather as well as a respected and beloved father-in-law. He was tough, but fair. And always tender-hearted. He loved nature and the beauty of all of God's creations. He was fun; he had a contagious smile and a twinkle in his eye. And he was a Master piddler! And sometimes he was too nice for his own good! But he could be stubborn and opinionated too---just like his mother! And she would sometimes wonder out loud where could her children have gotten their stubbornness? Why, it must have come from their father's side of the family! And we would all smirk and try not to laugh. But always, he was "an officer and a gentleman."
Until recent years Alton was a good cook. His homemade waffles, fried chicken and pork chops were the best! He entered many canned goods at the local parish fairs and won 1st place at the Natchitoches Parish Fair and the Louisiana State Fair for his fig preserves. And he enjoyed good food---especially sweets!
Alton's favorite song was, "His Eye Is On The Sparrow". He sang in church choirs for many years and sang at local nursing homes each week until the last 3 months when his health began to fail. In his younger years he played the C melody saxophone. He liked music and liked to "kick up his heels" from time to time.
Honoring Alton as pallbearers will be Charles Brown, Jr., Nettles Brown, Jonathan Cooper, Monty Cortez, Lance Fulenwider, Monte L'Herisson, Michael Reynolds, and Christopher Townsend.
Honorary pallbearers will be the Pappy Weeks Sunday School Class of Trinity Baptist Church and the Walter Ledet Coffee Club of Natchitoches and the Deacons of First Baptist Church, Coushatta, LA.
Memorials may be made to Trinity Baptist Church, 527 Howard St, Natchitoches, LA 71457; Women's Resource Center, 107 North Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457; First Baptist Church, PO Box 465, Coushatta, LA 71019; LA Baptist Children's Home, PO Box 4196, Monroe, LA 71211-4196; American Cancer Society, 920 Pierremont Rd, Suite 300, Shreveport, LA 71106; Samaritan's Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone NC 28607-3000 or the charity of the donor's choice.
The family wishes to thank Drs. Bryan and "Sissy" Picou for their compassionate care of our precious loved one in his final days. We also extend our appreciation to all the nurses, doctors, and staffs of Willis-Knighton Pierremont, The Promise of LA in Shreveport, The Courtyard of Natchitoches and the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center for their care during the past 3 months. May God bless you as you show His love and mercy to your patients.
And we thank God for the gift of Alton Lloyd Townsend to us and for the legacy of faith he left us for we know without a doubt where he is today. And through God's amazing grace, we know this is not "Good-bye!" but, "See you later!" Heaven is getting sweeter!
Alton Lloyd Townsend, (aka Jelly, Honey, Pa, Pa-paw, Twinkle-toes, Mr. T., Papa Bear, and Al) was born on August 31, 1921 in Wimple, LA. He took his final flight on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 and joined those who preceded him in death: his parents, Claude Hobson and Nelia Beaird Townsend; two brothers and two sister-in laws, Louis Claude and Vera Fussell Townsend and Larry Davis (Hot Shot) and Happy Keegan Townsend; one brother-in-law, Edward J. Hart; three wives: Dorothy V Sledge Townsend, Doris (Dollye) Beard Townsend, and Ferrol Jerienne (Jean) Brown; one son: Alton Lloyd Townsend, Jr.; and two special long-time lady-friends: Willa Vee Barker of Natchitoches and Elizabeth Gunn of Montgomery, La.
Left to cherish many happy times and loving memories are: one sister, Claudine T. Hart of Shreveport, La.; one daughter-in-law: Dr. Karen Townsend Gordy of Orange, TX; two daughters: Catherine (Cathy) T. L'Herisson and husband Charles of Garland, TX and Leta T. Garner Brown and husband Ron of Natchitoches; three granddaughters: Desiree (Desi) Benitez Cortez and husband Monty of Gorum, La., Alecia L. Fulenwider and husband Lance of Dallas, TX and Michelle Kilgore Reynolds and husband Michael of Orange, TX; two grandsons: Christopher (Chris) Alton Townsend of Keithville, LA and Monte L'Herisson and wife Sarah of Garland, TX; eight great-grandchildren: Katie Benitez of Ruston, La and fiancé Jonathan Cooper; Ezra Cortez; Victoria and Cody Fulenwider; Lila Grace, Maxwell, and Finley Reynolds; and Chase Townsend; long-time housekeeper and friend of the family: Rose Williams; special grand-puppies: Sandi and Buddy-Boy Brown and grand-kitties: Bella and Callie; numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews; and a host of friends.
Alton lived in Baton Rouge, on two separate occasions; he also lived in Covington, Colfax, Arcadia, Coushatta, and Shreveport before returning to live in Natchitoches approximately 22 years ago.
In high school, Alton turned down the opportunity to attend Annapolis because he did not think the Navy or a military life was for him---at the time, no one he knew of had a military career. He wanted to go into agriculture like his father.
As a walk-on tackle on the football team and a junior at NSU, Alton heard about the bombing of Pearl Harbor as he came out of First Baptist Church on Second Street, in Natchitoches, on a Sunday morning in December of 1941. After the Northwestern Normal (now Northwestern State University) football team won the Conference Championship, two months later, in February 1942, Alton, along with all his teammates went off to fight in WWII. Alton went to Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana, and enlisted to enter the Army Air Corps.
Alton was called back in March and sworn in as buck private in the Army and awaited cadet training in the Air Corps. He started Pre-flight Training at Kelly Air Field in San Antonio, TX in April; in July of 1942, he was sent to Grider Air Field in Pine Bluff, AR for Primary Flight Training where he served for approximately 3 months; in September, while still in Pine Bluff, he married his sweetheart from Red River Parish, Dorothy V Sledge; in October he was sent to Randolph Air Base back in San Antonio, TX for Basic Flight Training (Oct, Nov, Dec); then to Ellington Air Base in Houston, TX for Advanced Flight Training (multi-engine); in February 1943 Alton was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He received Tactical Training from February until September in Greenville, SC at Greenville Air Base.
In September 1943 Alton was deployed to India and then ordered into China where he was stationed at Kwelin. As a pilot he flew the B-25G (a B-25 with a cannon in the nose). He wanted to be a fighter pilot, but at 6'2" he was too tall!
On November 10, 1943, as a co-pilot on a low altitude mission over Yochow, China, Alton and a crew of 5 others were shot down and captured by Japanese and held in a Chinese prison camp for 10 days. Because of the treatment the Chinese received, Alton and the crew were grateful to be Americans! The six American prisoners were taken down the Yantzee River by boat at which time the Americans bombed the boat, not knowing Americans were on board; 2 of the 6 member crew escaped the boat---one drowned and one was picked up by a fishing boat and returned to the Japanese who had to move the prisoners to another boat to continue down river. They were interred at the Allied Prisoner of War Camp at Shanghai, China. Later the Japanese transferred Alton and his remaining crew with 1000 to 1100 other prisoners of war packed in rail cars through Manchuria to Korea and then in the hull of a boat crossing the Sea of Japan from China to the Northern Island of Japan, Okido.
Alton was kept in captivity for approximately 22 months until the war ended. While in captivity, as an officer, he worked on a farm. (Enlisted men had harder work.) Alton was repatriated in September 1945 at Okido and flew out of Sapuro (capital of Okido) to the Philippines, then traveled by ship across the Pacific to San Francisco. Alton got home in October 1945.
Alton earned 5 medals for his military service: World War II Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Medal, Prisoner of War Medal, and the Purple Heart Medal. In more recent years he received the Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal from Governor Bobby Jindal.
After the war Alton utilized the GI bill to attend LSU where he earned his Masters in Vocational Education and Agriculture. Later, he earned his Masters plus 30 at NSU. He worked for LSU Agriculture Extension Service in St. Tammany, Grant, and Bienville Parishes; and later as a sixth grade teacher and Media Specialist for the Red River Parish School Board.
While working as a County Agent in Grant Parish, dignitaries from Indonesia visited the U. S. and were exposed to agriculture through Alton's job. He was offered the position of Secretary of Agriculture---in Borneo---he declined!
Alton was a soldier, a pilot, a basketball coach, a high school teacher, an Agricultural Extension Agent, a 4H Leader, a cattleman, an elementary school teacher, a horseman, a School Board Media Specialist, a gardener, a hunter, a fisherman, a Deacon, a Sunday School teacher, a nurse, and a caregiver. He was a kind neighbor and a loyal friend. He was the Duck Master at the infamous Memphis, TN Peabody Hotel. And he raised and fed hundreds, if not thousands of mallard and wood ducks on Cane River.
He was a devoted son and spouse, a kind nephew, a thoughtful grandson, a loving brother, a favorite uncle, and a "kissin' cousin". He was a strong, Christian father and, at times, was also a surrogate mother, especially to his youngest daughter. He was a proud grandfather and an even prouder great-grandfather as well as a respected and beloved father-in-law. He was tough, but fair. And always tender-hearted. He loved nature and the beauty of all of God's creations. He was fun; he had a contagious smile and a twinkle in his eye. And he was a Master piddler! And sometimes he was too nice for his own good! But he could be stubborn and opinionated too---just like his mother! And she would sometimes wonder out loud where could her children have gotten their stubbornness? Why, it must have come from their father's side of the family! And we would all smirk and try not to laugh. But always, he was "an officer and a gentleman."
Until recent years Alton was a good cook. His homemade waffles, fried chicken and pork chops were the best! He entered many canned goods at the local parish fairs and won 1st place at the Natchitoches Parish Fair and the Louisiana State Fair for his fig preserves. And he enjoyed good food---especially sweets!
Alton's favorite song was, "His Eye Is On The Sparrow". He sang in church choirs for many years and sang at local nursing homes each week until the last 3 months when his health began to fail. In his younger years he played the C melody saxophone. He liked music and liked to "kick up his heels" from time to time.
Honoring Alton as pallbearers will be Charles Brown, Jr., Nettles Brown, Jonathan Cooper, Monty Cortez, Lance Fulenwider, Monte L'Herisson, Michael Reynolds, and Christopher Townsend.
Honorary pallbearers will be the Pappy Weeks Sunday School Class of Trinity Baptist Church and the Walter Ledet Coffee Club of Natchitoches and the Deacons of First Baptist Church, Coushatta, LA.
Memorials may be made to Trinity Baptist Church, 527 Howard St, Natchitoches, LA 71457; Women's Resource Center, 107 North Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457; First Baptist Church, PO Box 465, Coushatta, LA 71019; LA Baptist Children's Home, PO Box 4196, Monroe, LA 71211-4196; American Cancer Society, 920 Pierremont Rd, Suite 300, Shreveport, LA 71106; Samaritan's Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone NC 28607-3000 or the charity of the donor's choice.
The family wishes to thank Drs. Bryan and "Sissy" Picou for their compassionate care of our precious loved one in his final days. We also extend our appreciation to all the nurses, doctors, and staffs of Willis-Knighton Pierremont, The Promise of LA in Shreveport, The Courtyard of Natchitoches and the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center for their care during the past 3 months. May God bless you as you show His love and mercy to your patients.
And we thank God for the gift of Alton Lloyd Townsend to us and for the legacy of faith he left us for we know without a doubt where he is today. And through God's amazing grace, we know this is not "Good-bye!" but, "See you later!" Heaven is getting sweeter!
Services celebrating the extraordinary life of Alton Lloyd Townsend, 92, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at Trinity Baptist Church, 527 Howard Street, Natchitoches, LA with Bros. Bill Hines, Butch Rogers, and Josh Curry officiating. Interment will follow at Springville Cemetery in Coushatta, LA at 2:30 p.m. The family will receive friends on Friday, January 31, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home, 848 Keyser Ave, Natchitoches. Friends may also visit at Trinity Baptist Church prior to the service beginning at 9:00 a.m.
Alton Lloyd Townsend, (aka Jelly, Honey, Pa, Pa-paw, Twinkle-toes, Mr. T., Papa Bear, and Al) was born on August 31, 1921 in Wimple, LA. He took his final flight on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 and joined those who preceded him in death: his parents, Claude Hobson and Nelia Beaird Townsend; two brothers and two sister-in laws, Louis Claude and Vera Fussell Townsend and Larry Davis (Hot Shot) and Happy Keegan Townsend; one brother-in-law, Edward J. Hart; three wives: Dorothy V Sledge Townsend, Doris (Dollye) Beard Townsend, and Ferrol Jerienne (Jean) Brown; one son: Alton Lloyd Townsend, Jr.; and two special long-time lady-friends: Willa Vee Barker of Natchitoches and Elizabeth Gunn of Montgomery, La.
Left to cherish many happy times and loving memories are: one sister, Claudine T. Hart of Shreveport, La.; one daughter-in-law: Dr. Karen Townsend Gordy of Orange, TX; two daughters: Catherine (Cathy) T. L'Herisson and husband Charles of Garland, TX and Leta T. Garner Brown and husband Ron of Natchitoches; three granddaughters: Desiree (Desi) Benitez Cortez and husband Monty of Gorum, La., Alecia L. Fulenwider and husband Lance of Dallas, TX and Michelle Kilgore Reynolds and husband Michael of Orange, TX; two grandsons: Christopher (Chris) Alton Townsend of Keithville, LA and Monte L'Herisson and wife Sarah of Garland, TX; eight great-grandchildren: Katie Benitez of Ruston, La and fiancé Jonathan Cooper; Ezra Cortez; Victoria and Cody Fulenwider; Lila Grace, Maxwell, and Finley Reynolds; and Chase Townsend; long-time housekeeper and friend of the family: Rose Williams; special grand-puppies: Sandi and Buddy-Boy Brown and grand-kitties: Bella and Callie; numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews; and a host of friends.
Alton lived in Baton Rouge, on two separate occasions; he also lived in Covington, Colfax, Arcadia, Coushatta, and Shreveport before returning to live in Natchitoches approximately 22 years ago.
In high school, Alton turned down the opportunity to attend Annapolis because he did not think the Navy or a military life was for him---at the time, no one he knew of had a military career. He wanted to go into agriculture like his father.
As a walk-on tackle on the football team and a junior at NSU, Alton heard about the bombing of Pearl Harbor as he came out of First Baptist Church on Second Street, in Natchitoches, on a Sunday morning in December of 1941. After the Northwestern Normal (now Northwestern State University) football team won the Conference Championship, two months later, in February 1942, Alton, along with all his teammates went off to fight in WWII. Alton went to Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana, and enlisted to enter the Army Air Corps.
Alton was called back in March and sworn in as buck private in the Army and awaited cadet training in the Air Corps. He started Pre-flight Training at Kelly Air Field in San Antonio, TX in April; in July of 1942, he was sent to Grider Air Field in Pine Bluff, AR for Primary Flight Training where he served for approximately 3 months; in September, while still in Pine Bluff, he married his sweetheart from Red River Parish, Dorothy V Sledge; in October he was sent to Randolph Air Base back in San Antonio, TX for Basic Flight Training (Oct, Nov, Dec); then to Ellington Air Base in Houston, TX for Advanced Flight Training (multi-engine); in February 1943 Alton was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He received Tactical Training from February until September in Greenville, SC at Greenville Air Base.
In September 1943 Alton was deployed to India and then ordered into China where he was stationed at Kwelin. As a pilot he flew the B-25G (a B-25 with a cannon in the nose). He wanted to be a fighter pilot, but at 6'2" he was too tall!
On November 10, 1943, as a co-pilot on a low altitude mission over Yochow, China, Alton and a crew of 5 others were shot down and captured by Japanese and held in a Chinese prison camp for 10 days. Because of the treatment the Chinese received, Alton and the crew were grateful to be Americans! The six American prisoners were taken down the Yantzee River by boat at which time the Americans bombed the boat, not knowing Americans were on board; 2 of the 6 member crew escaped the boat---one drowned and one was picked up by a fishing boat and returned to the Japanese who had to move the prisoners to another boat to continue down river. They were interred at the Allied Prisoner of War Camp at Shanghai, China. Later the Japanese transferred Alton and his remaining crew with 1000 to 1100 other prisoners of war packed in rail cars through Manchuria to Korea and then in the hull of a boat crossing the Sea of Japan from China to the Northern Island of Japan, Okido.
Alton was kept in captivity for approximately 22 months until the war ended. While in captivity, as an officer, he worked on a farm. (Enlisted men had harder work.) Alton was repatriated in September 1945 at Okido and flew out of Sapuro (capital of Okido) to the Philippines, then traveled by ship across the Pacific to San Francisco. Alton got home in October 1945.
Alton earned 5 medals for his military service: World War II Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Medal, Prisoner of War Medal, and the Purple Heart Medal. In more recent years he received the Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal from Governor Bobby Jindal.
After the war Alton utilized the GI bill to attend LSU where he earned his Masters in Vocational Education and Agriculture. Later, he earned his Masters plus 30 at NSU. He worked for LSU Agriculture Extension Service in St. Tammany, Grant, and Bienville Parishes; and later as a sixth grade teacher and Media Specialist for the Red River Parish School Board.
While working as a County Agent in Grant Parish, dignitaries from Indonesia visited the U. S. and were exposed to agriculture through Alton's job. He was offered the position of Secretary of Agriculture---in Borneo---he declined!
Alton was a soldier, a pilot, a basketball coach, a high school teacher, an Agricultural Extension Agent, a 4H Leader, a cattleman, an elementary school teacher, a horseman, a School Board Media Specialist, a gardener, a hunter, a fisherman, a Deacon, a Sunday School teacher, a nurse, and a caregiver. He was a kind neighbor and a loyal friend. He was the Duck Master at the infamous Memphis, TN Peabody Hotel. And he raised and fed hundreds, if not thousands of mallard and wood ducks on Cane River.
He was a devoted son and spouse, a kind nephew, a thoughtful grandson, a loving brother, a favorite uncle, and a "kissin' cousin". He was a strong, Christian father and, at times, was also a surrogate mother, especially to his youngest daughter. He was a proud grandfather and an even prouder great-grandfather as well as a respected and beloved father-in-law. He was tough, but fair. And always tender-hearted. He loved nature and the beauty of all of God's creations. He was fun; he had a contagious smile and a twinkle in his eye. And he was a Master piddler! And sometimes he was too nice for his own good! But he could be stubborn and opinionated too---just like his mother! And she would sometimes wonder out loud where could her children have gotten their stubbornness? Why, it must have come from their father's side of the family! And we would all smirk and try not to laugh. But always, he was "an officer and a gentleman."
Until recent years Alton was a good cook. His homemade waffles, fried chicken and pork chops were the best! He entered many canned goods at the local parish fairs and won 1st place at the Natchitoches Parish Fair and the Louisiana State Fair for his fig preserves. And he enjoyed good food---especially sweets!
Alton's favorite song was, "His Eye Is On The Sparrow". He sang in church choirs for many years and sang at local nursing homes each week until the last 3 months when his health began to fail. In his younger years he played the C melody saxophone. He liked music and liked to "kick up his heels" from time to time.
Honoring Alton as pallbearers will be Charles Brown, Jr., Nettles Brown, Jonathan Cooper, Monty Cortez, Lance Fulenwider, Monte L'Herisson, Michael Reynolds, and Christopher Townsend.
Honorary pallbearers will be the Pappy Weeks Sunday School Class of Trinity Baptist Church and the Walter Ledet Coffee Club of Natchitoches and the Deacons of First Baptist Church, Coushatta, LA.
Memorials may be made to Trinity Baptist Church, 527 Howard St, Natchitoches, LA 71457; Women's Resource Center, 107 North Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457; First Baptist Church, PO Box 465, Coushatta, LA 71019; LA Baptist Children's Home, PO Box 4196, Monroe, LA 71211-4196; American Cancer Society, 920 Pierremont Rd, Suite 300, Shreveport, LA 71106; Samaritan's Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone NC 28607-3000 or the charity of the donor's choice.
The family wishes to thank Drs. Bryan and "Sissy" Picou for their compassionate care of our precious loved one in his final days. We also extend our appreciation to all the nurses, doctors, and staffs of Willis-Knighton Pierremont, The Promise of LA in Shreveport, The Courtyard of Natchitoches and the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center for their care during the past 3 months. May God bless you as you show His love and mercy to your patients.
And we thank God for the gift of Alton Lloyd Townsend to us and for the legacy of faith he left us for we know without a doubt where he is today. And through God's amazing grace, we know this is not "Good-bye!" but, "See you later!" Heaven is getting sweeter!
Alton Lloyd Townsend, (aka Jelly, Honey, Pa, Pa-paw, Twinkle-toes, Mr. T., Papa Bear, and Al) was born on August 31, 1921 in Wimple, LA. He took his final flight on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 and joined those who preceded him in death: his parents, Claude Hobson and Nelia Beaird Townsend; two brothers and two sister-in laws, Louis Claude and Vera Fussell Townsend and Larry Davis (Hot Shot) and Happy Keegan Townsend; one brother-in-law, Edward J. Hart; three wives: Dorothy V Sledge Townsend, Doris (Dollye) Beard Townsend, and Ferrol Jerienne (Jean) Brown; one son: Alton Lloyd Townsend, Jr.; and two special long-time lady-friends: Willa Vee Barker of Natchitoches and Elizabeth Gunn of Montgomery, La.
Left to cherish many happy times and loving memories are: one sister, Claudine T. Hart of Shreveport, La.; one daughter-in-law: Dr. Karen Townsend Gordy of Orange, TX; two daughters: Catherine (Cathy) T. L'Herisson and husband Charles of Garland, TX and Leta T. Garner Brown and husband Ron of Natchitoches; three granddaughters: Desiree (Desi) Benitez Cortez and husband Monty of Gorum, La., Alecia L. Fulenwider and husband Lance of Dallas, TX and Michelle Kilgore Reynolds and husband Michael of Orange, TX; two grandsons: Christopher (Chris) Alton Townsend of Keithville, LA and Monte L'Herisson and wife Sarah of Garland, TX; eight great-grandchildren: Katie Benitez of Ruston, La and fiancé Jonathan Cooper; Ezra Cortez; Victoria and Cody Fulenwider; Lila Grace, Maxwell, and Finley Reynolds; and Chase Townsend; long-time housekeeper and friend of the family: Rose Williams; special grand-puppies: Sandi and Buddy-Boy Brown and grand-kitties: Bella and Callie; numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews; and a host of friends.
Alton lived in Baton Rouge, on two separate occasions; he also lived in Covington, Colfax, Arcadia, Coushatta, and Shreveport before returning to live in Natchitoches approximately 22 years ago.
In high school, Alton turned down the opportunity to attend Annapolis because he did not think the Navy or a military life was for him---at the time, no one he knew of had a military career. He wanted to go into agriculture like his father.
As a walk-on tackle on the football team and a junior at NSU, Alton heard about the bombing of Pearl Harbor as he came out of First Baptist Church on Second Street, in Natchitoches, on a Sunday morning in December of 1941. After the Northwestern Normal (now Northwestern State University) football team won the Conference Championship, two months later, in February 1942, Alton, along with all his teammates went off to fight in WWII. Alton went to Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana, and enlisted to enter the Army Air Corps.
Alton was called back in March and sworn in as buck private in the Army and awaited cadet training in the Air Corps. He started Pre-flight Training at Kelly Air Field in San Antonio, TX in April; in July of 1942, he was sent to Grider Air Field in Pine Bluff, AR for Primary Flight Training where he served for approximately 3 months; in September, while still in Pine Bluff, he married his sweetheart from Red River Parish, Dorothy V Sledge; in October he was sent to Randolph Air Base back in San Antonio, TX for Basic Flight Training (Oct, Nov, Dec); then to Ellington Air Base in Houston, TX for Advanced Flight Training (multi-engine); in February 1943 Alton was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He received Tactical Training from February until September in Greenville, SC at Greenville Air Base.
In September 1943 Alton was deployed to India and then ordered into China where he was stationed at Kwelin. As a pilot he flew the B-25G (a B-25 with a cannon in the nose). He wanted to be a fighter pilot, but at 6'2" he was too tall!
On November 10, 1943, as a co-pilot on a low altitude mission over Yochow, China, Alton and a crew of 5 others were shot down and captured by Japanese and held in a Chinese prison camp for 10 days. Because of the treatment the Chinese received, Alton and the crew were grateful to be Americans! The six American prisoners were taken down the Yantzee River by boat at which time the Americans bombed the boat, not knowing Americans were on board; 2 of the 6 member crew escaped the boat---one drowned and one was picked up by a fishing boat and returned to the Japanese who had to move the prisoners to another boat to continue down river. They were interred at the Allied Prisoner of War Camp at Shanghai, China. Later the Japanese transferred Alton and his remaining crew with 1000 to 1100 other prisoners of war packed in rail cars through Manchuria to Korea and then in the hull of a boat crossing the Sea of Japan from China to the Northern Island of Japan, Okido.
Alton was kept in captivity for approximately 22 months until the war ended. While in captivity, as an officer, he worked on a farm. (Enlisted men had harder work.) Alton was repatriated in September 1945 at Okido and flew out of Sapuro (capital of Okido) to the Philippines, then traveled by ship across the Pacific to San Francisco. Alton got home in October 1945.
Alton earned 5 medals for his military service: World War II Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Medal, Prisoner of War Medal, and the Purple Heart Medal. In more recent years he received the Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal from Governor Bobby Jindal.
After the war Alton utilized the GI bill to attend LSU where he earned his Masters in Vocational Education and Agriculture. Later, he earned his Masters plus 30 at NSU. He worked for LSU Agriculture Extension Service in St. Tammany, Grant, and Bienville Parishes; and later as a sixth grade teacher and Media Specialist for the Red River Parish School Board.
While working as a County Agent in Grant Parish, dignitaries from Indonesia visited the U. S. and were exposed to agriculture through Alton's job. He was offered the position of Secretary of Agriculture---in Borneo---he declined!
Alton was a soldier, a pilot, a basketball coach, a high school teacher, an Agricultural Extension Agent, a 4H Leader, a cattleman, an elementary school teacher, a horseman, a School Board Media Specialist, a gardener, a hunter, a fisherman, a Deacon, a Sunday School teacher, a nurse, and a caregiver. He was a kind neighbor and a loyal friend. He was the Duck Master at the infamous Memphis, TN Peabody Hotel. And he raised and fed hundreds, if not thousands of mallard and wood ducks on Cane River.
He was a devoted son and spouse, a kind nephew, a thoughtful grandson, a loving brother, a favorite uncle, and a "kissin' cousin". He was a strong, Christian father and, at times, was also a surrogate mother, especially to his youngest daughter. He was a proud grandfather and an even prouder great-grandfather as well as a respected and beloved father-in-law. He was tough, but fair. And always tender-hearted. He loved nature and the beauty of all of God's creations. He was fun; he had a contagious smile and a twinkle in his eye. And he was a Master piddler! And sometimes he was too nice for his own good! But he could be stubborn and opinionated too---just like his mother! And she would sometimes wonder out loud where could her children have gotten their stubbornness? Why, it must have come from their father's side of the family! And we would all smirk and try not to laugh. But always, he was "an officer and a gentleman."
Until recent years Alton was a good cook. His homemade waffles, fried chicken and pork chops were the best! He entered many canned goods at the local parish fairs and won 1st place at the Natchitoches Parish Fair and the Louisiana State Fair for his fig preserves. And he enjoyed good food---especially sweets!
Alton's favorite song was, "His Eye Is On The Sparrow". He sang in church choirs for many years and sang at local nursing homes each week until the last 3 months when his health began to fail. In his younger years he played the C melody saxophone. He liked music and liked to "kick up his heels" from time to time.
Honoring Alton as pallbearers will be Charles Brown, Jr., Nettles Brown, Jonathan Cooper, Monty Cortez, Lance Fulenwider, Monte L'Herisson, Michael Reynolds, and Christopher Townsend.
Honorary pallbearers will be the Pappy Weeks Sunday School Class of Trinity Baptist Church and the Walter Ledet Coffee Club of Natchitoches and the Deacons of First Baptist Church, Coushatta, LA.
Memorials may be made to Trinity Baptist Church, 527 Howard St, Natchitoches, LA 71457; Women's Resource Center, 107 North Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457; First Baptist Church, PO Box 465, Coushatta, LA 71019; LA Baptist Children's Home, PO Box 4196, Monroe, LA 71211-4196; American Cancer Society, 920 Pierremont Rd, Suite 300, Shreveport, LA 71106; Samaritan's Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone NC 28607-3000 or the charity of the donor's choice.
The family wishes to thank Drs. Bryan and "Sissy" Picou for their compassionate care of our precious loved one in his final days. We also extend our appreciation to all the nurses, doctors, and staffs of Willis-Knighton Pierremont, The Promise of LA in Shreveport, The Courtyard of Natchitoches and the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center for their care during the past 3 months. May God bless you as you show His love and mercy to your patients.
And we thank God for the gift of Alton Lloyd Townsend to us and for the legacy of faith he left us for we know without a doubt where he is today. And through God's amazing grace, we know this is not "Good-bye!" but, "See you later!" Heaven is getting sweeter!
Family Members
Children
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
