Dorothy L. Townsend, 90, of Idyllwild, died Monday, Feb. 6, 2006 at home of natural causes.
She was born June 1, 1915 in Great Falls, Mont. Mrs. Townsend grew up in Montana and met her future husband, Bruce, while they were attending college in Colorado. He was studying to be a teacher and she was a physical education major.
They were married soon after in 1937 and remained affectionately and happily married until his death in 2001.
During World War II, the couple and his mother moved to Portland, Ore., where they all worked as welders building ships for the war effort. Afterward, the couple and their four children moved to Santa Monica and Mr. Townsend resumed his teaching career.
Mrs. Townsend was a housewife and mother who was affiliated with the Baptist church.
On his retirement, they built a home in Pine Cove and alternated living there and in Palm Desert, depending on the weather. The couple loved to travel, making lots of family camping trips and later, several trips to Europe. They usually spent the summer at the family homestead in the Rockies.
For the last two years, Mrs. Townsend lived with her son, Eric, his wife, Cher, and their family in Idyllwild. What she loved the most was family gatherings for holidays and for her recent 90th birthday.
Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13 at Miller-Jones Mortuary in Hemet with burial at the San Jacinto Valley Cemetery the same day.
Along with her son, Eric Townsend, Mrs. Townsend is survived by two other sons, Dennis Townsend of Santa Monica and Neil Townsend of Tucson; a daughter, Barbara, of Hollywood; and 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
