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Walter Ernest Townsend 1887 - 1949

Walter Ernest Townsend of Yellow Springs, Ohio United States was born on August 27, 1887 in David City, Butler County, NE to Horatio Gates Townsend and Annie Lois Young. He was in a relationship with Hazel Marie (Stroud) beginning June 27, 1925 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, and had children Silas Horatio Townsend and Wallace Eugene Townsend. Walter Townsend died at age 61 years old on March 29, 1949 in Yellow Springs, Greene County, OH, and was buried on March 29, 1949 in Yellow Springs.

Walter Ernest Townsend

Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387, United States

August 27, 1887

David City, Butler County, Nebraska, 68632, United States

March 29, 1949

Yellow Springs, Greene County, Ohio, 45387, United States

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Walter Ernest Townsend Walter Townsend (1887 - 1949)

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Walter Ernest Townsend's History: 1887 - 1949

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Introduction

Walter Ernest Townsend Walter was the last child born to Horatio Gates and Annie Lois Young Townsend. He joined siblings; Warren (1870-1879), Charles Herbert (1871-1956), Lewis Franklin (1875-1934), Emma Ada (1877-1918), Cora Eda (1879-1957), and Harvey Gates (1885-1948). He was born in David City, Nebraska. While he was still quite young he left home to join his brother Charlie, on his own homestead in White Clay, Neb. Walter was very handy with a hammer and a very hard worker. He helped to build the house as well as to work the herds and do the farming chores. The call of duty interrupted his future. Walter was the first man drafted from Sheridan County, NE and he was off to World War I. He was trained in Kansas and served in France as an Army cook throughout the war. He was unfit for long marches because of an old leg injury after a horse had fallen on it. After the war was over, Walter's outfit was to board a ship for home. It was Walter's misfortune to become ill with the flu at boarding time. He was removed from the dock and taken to a local hospital. All of his military papers were in his bags, which had gotten aboard ship without him and they arrived with his outfit at Fort Dicks, in New Jersey. The Federal Officers there assumed Walter to be lost in action and they tried to pay Walter's insurance money to Dad and Mother. Walter did return, much to his mother’s joy, much later. Walter cared for her until a private nurse; H. Marie Stroud was called from Indiana to help with Annie’s care. After Annie’s death, Walter was married to H. Marie Stroud on June 27, 1925. Walter was 38 years old. The couple stayed in the Lincoln area for a short time, and then moved to Xenia, OH in about 1927. Walter attended mortuary school, but after his partner in the Xenia Neeld Funeral Home died, Walter moved on. At the time of his death, the couple was living on a small farm on Hyde Road outside Yellow Springs, OH. Walter was also the head of the carpentry division of the maintenance department of Antioch College. He had worked all day at the college was sowing oats that evening when his wife found him dead of a major heart attack, sitting under a tree in his field. Walter was just 61 years old. The couple had two sons; Silas Horatio a senior at Oberlin College and Wallace E. a student at Ohio State University at the time. Walter never met his daughter-in-laws, Ann Stocking and Edith Kenney, or knew his five grandchildren; Si’s son Harvey Gates, or Wallace’s girls Nancy, Terrie Sue, Amy and Karen. Walter’s ashes were sprinkled around the Antioch Maintenance Shed where he had kept an office.
08/27

1887

Birthday

August 27, 1887

Birthdate

David City, Butler County, Nebraska 68632, United States

Birthplace

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Religious Beliefs

Walter was raised by a Mother who was very strong in her Methodist faith. Walter's father was very strong in faith as well, but followed revival meetings rather than attend a local church. As a child Walter attended as his mother insisted, but after returning from the war, he had nothing or little to do with religions. His sons were both raised in the Methodist faith, attending with their mother at the local church.
03/29

1949

Death

March 29, 1949

Death date

heart attack

Cause of death

Yellow Springs, Greene County, Ohio 45387, United States
Death location

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03/29

1949

Gravesite & Burial

March 29, 1949

Funeral date
Yellow Springs, Greene County, Ohio 45387, United States
Burial location
Obituary

Local Obituary: W. E. TOWNSEND DIED While at Work Tuesday Walter E. Townsend, 61, succumbed to a heart attack while at work sowing oats on his Hyde Road farm about 7:30pm Tuesday. Funeral services are being held at Neeld Funeral Home in Xenia at 2:00 this (Thursday) afternoon. The body will be cremated. Mr. Townsend, head of the carpentry division of the maintenance department of Antioch College, worked all day at the college Tuesday and began his farm work after returning home. He was found dead in the field by Mrs. Townsend. Mr. Townsend had suffered some heart trouble for the past few months, but not enough to cause any relaxation in his activity. Born in David City, Neb. Mr. Townsend came to Xenia 22 years ago and later to Yellow Springs. He was married to Miss Marie Stroud, June 27, 1925. She survives him. Other survivors include two sons, Silas H. a senior at Oberlin College and Wallace E. a student at Ohio State University; a sister, Mrs. Cora Waddill of Rogers, Ark; and a brother, Charles of White Clay, Neb.

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Nancy L. Buchan

61 favorites

12/21/2022

Walter Ernest Townsend

Walter never spoke of his military service, his uniform was discarded and anything that was connected to that time period. This is a very rare picture of him in uniform, that was sent to his mother. As his oldest grandchild, it is now in my possession. Nancy Townsend Buchan

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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