John B. Townsend

On Saturday, April 27, 2019, John Blair Townsend, loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away at the age of 90 at the Masonic Village in Elizabethtown, PA. John was born on February 17th, 1929 to Jennie (Davidson) and Arthur Townsend, in South Fork, PA.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Jenny Bubenko, his 5 brothers and 3 sisters.  His younger sister, Grace Bialas resides in Portage, PA. 

He and Jenny Mary (Bubenko) were married November 22,1951 and welcomed their daughter Judith Anne soon afterwards.  They spent many years living and working in Windber, Johnstown, Hershey, and Elizabethtown, PA.  John was a clothing buyer for Millers in Johnstown and later he and Jenny traveled to Hershey to become Milton Hershey School houseparents.  John also worked in the M.S. Hershey Medical Center in charge of their mail room.

John was a 3rd degree Mason.  In his younger days he loved to fish. John was a great fan of Penn State football and the Phillies ball games and he loved swimming.  He enjoyed going on walks and traveling with Jenny and attending church at the West Green Tree Church of the Brethren.  He also enjoyed spending time with his two grandchildren and later his 3 great-grandsons.  They were the biggest joy in his life.

He is known and will be always be remembered for his quick wit, cheeky sense of humor, charming smile, and his kind eyes.  You knew when John was near because there was always laughter that followed him.  John had a tremendous zest for life and for his family and friends.  

He is survived by his daughter, Judith Anne Ziglar (Howard Roy), 2 grandchildren, Jason Roy (Rebecca Cord) and Jessica Anne (Michael Hougentogler), and 3 great grandsons, Thomas Harold, Owen Quigley and Landry Howard, and several nieces, nephews 

A funeral service will be held on Friday, May 3, 2019 at West Green Tree Church of the Brethren, 740 Greentree Road, Elizabethtown, PA 17022 at 11:00 AM. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until the time of service. Interment with military honors will take place in the adjoining cemetery. A masonic service will also be conducted at the graveside by Abraham C. Treichler Lodge #682, Elizabethtown.

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