Bruce F. Townsend, 86, of Hemet, died of natural causes Tuesday, June 26, 2001 at Hemet Valley HealthCare Center.

Mr. Townsend was born Nov. 10, 1914 in Hollenberg, Kan.

He belonged to the National Guard in Greeley, Colo. from 1931 to 1936.

Mr. Townsend received his bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of Northern Colorado and his master’s degree in fine art from the same college.

In college, he was a member of Phi Delta Kappa and Phi Sigma Iota.

He had been a teacher for 33 years before retiring in 1979 from Santa Monica High School.

Mr. Townsend had been a Hemet resident for 11 years. Prior to that time, he had lived in Palm Desert and in Pine Cove.

He attended the Hemet First Baptist Church for eight years and enjoyed traveling, crossword puzzles, camping and his family.

Mr. Townsend and his wife, Dorothy, were married 65 years.

Memorial services were held at noon Monday, July 2 at McWane Family Funeral Home in Hemet. Burial was at San Jacinto Valley Cemetery.

Besides his wife, he is survived by three sons, Dennis Townsend of Redondo Beach, Eric Townsend of Idyllwild and Neil Townsend of Tucson; a daughter, Barbara Townsend of Los Angeles; a brother, Calvin Townsend of Denver; 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.