Townsend, Bill Willard Alton

Bill Willard Alton Townsend - age: 99
(August 13, 1916 to May 05, 2016 )
Resident of Ukiah, California

Obituary:
( Bill ) Willard Alton Townsend died peacefully at his home in Ukiah on Thursday, May 5, 2016. Born in Rockdale, Texas on August 13, 1916. Bill had plans to make it to his 100 year birthday this summer and share another harvest of garden treasures with his family and friends. Bill has lived in and loved on Ukiah since 1947. He worked at Townsend Brother’s Auto Body along side his wife Sibyl and brother G.C. (Zeke) from 1947 - 1983. Bill was recognized upon his 99th birthday in the congressional record in the following remarks by Rep. Jared Huffman for his many years of service to Mendocino County.
Since 1947, Mr. Townsend has dedicated his time, talent, and energy to the health of our forests and rivers and to the youth of Mendocino County. A lifelong sportsman, Mr. Townsend has demonstrated an enduring commitment to preserving our natural resources for future generations. For sixty years, he has volunteered his time, beginning with his work at the Iron Gate Fish Hatchery in 1955. His contributions have included everything from fish ladders, Pike Minnow Derbies, stream restoration projects and 43 years of grilling fish at the “ World’s Largest Salmon Barbeque” in Fort Bragg, California, which raises funds for fisheries.
With his dedication to fish habitat restoration, it was fitting that in 1973 the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors appointed Bill to the Mendocino County Fish and Game Commission where he served as chairman for 15 years until he retired in 1988. Throughout his tenure on the commission, Mr. Townsend worked tirelessly to support healthy fisheries and integrate youth education into the Commission’s projects.
Mr. Townsend served as president of Salmon Unlimited for 3 years starting in 1991, where he played an instrumental role in the development of the hatchery on Rowdy Creek on the Smith River. Included in his legacy of accomplishments is his work to secure funding for the hatchery at Coyote Dam, which was completed in 1996 and renamed the “Bill Townsend Conservation Fish Hatchery” in 2004. He also served his community on the Russian River Flood Control Board for 5 Years from 2005-2010 then “retiring” at the age of 97.


Bill was predeceased by his lovely wife Sibyl who he married on October 11, 1940. Also, his son Willard “ Dean” Townsend, his 4 brothers, Milton “ Red” Townsend, Vernon Townsend, G.C. “ Zeke” Townsend, and Alford Townsend,and his parents Lena Phiillipene Loehr and Nathan Emory Townsend. Bill is survived by his daughter Jennifer “Gale” Nelson, of Ukiah, daughter-in law Gretel Townsend of Ukiah, grandchildren Jon Eric Sutten (Tami ) of Albany, Ore., Mia Mull of Folsom, CA and Lisa Klinkhammer (Shane) of Lakewood, WA., Nieces, Suzy Lewman and Brenda Wagnon, Nephews, Carl Townsend, William and Stephen Townsend . Bill also has 10 great grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren.
Bill will always be remembered for his tenacity, strength, ingenuity, ethics and contributions to the community, friends and family. If you ever visited Bill in the garden and sat with him sipping tea under the peach tree you probably know how he felt about you and lot’s of other things. If you have been lucky enough to be gifted a coveted red onion you were doing something right!
In the spirit of giving back to the community that Bill embraced and lived throughout his life donations in lieu of flower’s are requested to:
Bill Townsend Conservation Fish Hatchery
c/o Ukiah Rod & Gun Club
P.O. Box 1309 Ukiah, CA 95482.
Bill leaves us with these words ... “Get out and get involved in your community and you know what ...pretty soon you will find that you are doing some good and you like it!”


Memorial Services to be held Monday May 23, 2016 at 10:30 am at The Eversole Mortuary. Inurnment to follow at Ukiah Cemetery. There will be a social gathering after the services for friends and family to join and celebrate Bill’s life.