Charles William Townsend

Townsend, Charles William ?Bill,? 88, of St. Petersburg, died Sunday October 16, 2005 at St. Petersburg General Hospital. He was a native of St. Petersburg and graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 1934. He was the manager of Townsend Dry Cleaners and worked retail furniture sales for Easton Furniture Co. and Mather Furniture Co. He was a member and a Lifetime Deacon of First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg. He served in the 612th Tank Destroyer Battalion in World War II. While serving he was held as a prisoner of war in Germany, captured at the Battle of the Bulge. He was honored with a Good Conduct Medal, the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for outstanding action in battle at St. Lo, France. Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Ruth Woolley Townsend; two sons: Robert C. ?Robb,? St. Petersburg; and Richard C. ?Rick,? Milford, NJ; a daughter, Julia A. ?Juli? Tanner, Charleston, SC; three sisters: Olive Bowyer and Florence Mullinix, both of Bakersville, NC; and Ruth Amiro, St. Petersburg; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Anderson-McQueen Funeral & Cremation Centers-NE St. Petersburg