Burt Jerry Townsend 1941-2013
Burt Jerry Townsend was the fifth child born to John and Dorothy Crowfoot Townsend. His arrival on April 9th, 1941 completed the family of four boys and one girl. The family was living on a homestead in north-west Nebraska.
John realized that he needed have an income that was more predictable and steady and left for California to seek job opportunities. Once he found a job in the San Francisco area, he sent for his family. Dorothy and the children traveled by train after they had shipped all of their household belongings, in May of 1943. Burt was just 2, Paul was 6, Mary was 7, Lawrence would be 9 and Petrus was 10 years old. It was quite a trip, and one that was talked about many times.
The family lived in government housing and in 1944, the children all had the mumps. The family looked for housing closer to the schools, but with the war still going on housing was hard to find. In 1947 they lived in El Cerrito. All of the children graduated from high school here.
In 1965 John and Dorothy moved to Grass Valley but the children had grown and left home, starting their own families.
Burt joined his life with Cheryl Ivanhoe, when they were married on July 3, 1973. They did not have any children.
Burt died at home, he was cremated and his ashes were buried at Chapel of the Chimes, Oakland, California.
Local Obit:
Burt J. Townsend 1941-2013
Burt Townsend passed away in the early hours of Dec 5, at home with his wife Cheryl at his side. His sudden turn in health was unexpected.
Before retiring to Ojai in 1999, he spent 32 years working for the US Postal service in El Cerrito and Oakland. While being of a family of five siblings, he is survived by his sister Mary Wallace and one brother Petrus Townsend.
Hardworking and handy at many things, before retirement he and his wife owned & operated a small chain of Laundromats, where between them they did all the repairs and service. He was also ready & able to do a repair or patch just about any problem around the yard or house. His talents and prodigious memory will be missed.
Burt was an active volunteer at Help of Ojai's Little House where his cheerful shirts and quirky sense of humor will be missed by both his fellow volunteers and many patrons of Little House.
Contributed by Nancy L. Townsend Buchan
John realized that he needed have an income that was more predictable and steady and left for California to seek job opportunities. Once he found a job in the San Francisco area, he sent for his family. Dorothy and the children traveled by train after they had shipped all of their household belongings, in May of 1943. Burt was just 2, Paul was 6, Mary was 7, Lawrence would be 9 and Petrus was 10 years old. It was quite a trip, and one that was talked about many times.
The family lived in government housing and in 1944, the children all had the mumps. The family looked for housing closer to the schools, but with the war still going on housing was hard to find. In 1947 they lived in El Cerrito. All of the children graduated from high school here.
In 1965 John and Dorothy moved to Grass Valley but the children had grown and left home, starting their own families.
Burt joined his life with Cheryl Ivanhoe, when they were married on July 3, 1973. They did not have any children.
Burt died at home, he was cremated and his ashes were buried at Chapel of the Chimes, Oakland, California.
Local Obit:
Burt J. Townsend 1941-2013
Burt Townsend passed away in the early hours of Dec 5, at home with his wife Cheryl at his side. His sudden turn in health was unexpected.
Before retiring to Ojai in 1999, he spent 32 years working for the US Postal service in El Cerrito and Oakland. While being of a family of five siblings, he is survived by his sister Mary Wallace and one brother Petrus Townsend.
Hardworking and handy at many things, before retirement he and his wife owned & operated a small chain of Laundromats, where between them they did all the repairs and service. He was also ready & able to do a repair or patch just about any problem around the yard or house. His talents and prodigious memory will be missed.
Burt was an active volunteer at Help of Ojai's Little House where his cheerful shirts and quirky sense of humor will be missed by both his fellow volunteers and many patrons of Little House.
Contributed by Nancy L. Townsend Buchan
Date & Place:
Not specified or unknown.