To say that George Townsend lived a full life would be an understatement. From the day he was born on March 18, 1923 in Kilmichael, Mississippi to his death on January 20, 2010 in Garland, Texas, George was his own man.

The youngest of four children born to Luther T. and Virginia Lee Boatman Townsend, George grew up in rural Mississippi. After his parent’s divorce, George was raised by his single mother who worked hard to provide for her children during the Great Depression.

As a teenager, George’s wicked sense of humor and love of pranks became evident when he dyed a white dog belonging to the owner of the drug store where he worked pink with vegetable dye.

With the war in Europe raging, George was too young to join the service, so he lied about his age and enlisted in the Army Air Corps in September, 1940. George’s lifelong love of airplanes became his reality when he was assigned to a crew flying missions in Europe aboard airplanes equipped with atomic bombs. He was assigned to 1 of 45 crews told that they may or may not be carrying a live atomic bomb.

Every day, George’s crew flew over the North Sea and then returned to base as they awaited orders of whether or not they would be instructed to drop the bomb. Once first Japan and then Germany surrendered, George’s crew was ordered to drop all bombs into the North Sea. He never knew if his plane was one of those carrying the real thing.

George spent his time in the service in the European theater, British Guiana, Roswell, New Mexico, and England among other locations stateside and overseas. It was during his service in England that he met the love of his life, Margaret Newsome, a young, lovely English woman. Margaret’s love of life and adventure equaled George’s. In war torn England, Margaret served as a crew leader on an all woman ambulance brigade.

The fact that George and Margaret were destined to be together was evident in the fact that both narrowly escaped death during the war. Margaret’s crew was called out on a mission and Margaret was delayed and missed the crew’s departure. The ambulance received a direct hit from a German bomb and all members of Margaret’s crew were killed. George’s flight crew was ordered on a mission which George missed when he was called to the Commander’s office. George watched as the plane he should have been on took off and flew directly into a mountain killing all on board.

George and Margaret fell in love, but due to restrictions within the US Military, George and Margaret were not allowed to marry, so Margaret followed George from base to base staying in nearby hotels in order to be close to her love until they were allowed to marry in 1950. George then became both husband to Margaret and step-father to her daughter, Pamela, from a previous marriage.

After the war, the Air Force took George’s family to a number of locations including Hawaii, Scotland and New York. During that time, George and Margaret expanded their family with the births of a son, Russell, and a daughter, Ginny.

George retired from the Air Force in 1961 with the rank of Tech Sergeant E-6 and took a job with Honeywell in Tampa, Florida. After 1 ½ years, George and Margaret moved their family to Dallas, Texas where George worked for Texas Instruments in the field of communications. At Texas Instruments, George worked on tracking systems for military rocket launchers.

George’s love of airplanes didn’t end with the end of his Air Force career. His passion for airplanes carried over into his collection of model planes, books and his attendance at all local air shows. George loved to look up in the sky and identify aircraft to anyone within earshot.

Besides raising a family, George and Margaret enjoyed a rich social life and community service with their involvement in Eastern Star and the Masons where both held a number of offices. George was a 32nd degree Mason also a member of the Scottish Rite, and a Shriner. He was a Past Master of his Masonic Lodge and a Past Worthy Patron in Eastern Star.

Anyone who really knew him would tell you that George had a positively wicked sense of humor and always said what was on his mind. One of his greatest joys was playing pranks on Margaret who always fell for all of his jokes.

George and Margaret returned to his home state of Mississippi living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for many years where they were very active in the Baptist church and with the new friends they made. They lived in Mississippi for several years before returning to Dallas to be near their children.

A bit of George died when his beloved Margaret died in August, 2004. As he watched Margaret’s memory and life fade from Alzheimer’s, George never faltered in his love and dedication.

George returned to Mississippi following Margaret’s death. He was living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast when the area was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Just before Katrina hit, George was in Dallas visiting his children. Hearing that the hurricane may hit his home and fearing for the safety of his cat, he drove back to Mississippi. For three days, his children had no idea where he was and feared the worst. They called friends and neighbors and posted pictures and stories in hopes that someone would recognize George from his picture. On the third day, George returned to his daughter, Ginny’s house and announced that he had been “hold up” in a motel in Hattiesburg, Mississippi sitting in the parking lot in lawn chairs, sharing bottled water with his new friends and watching looters in the stores across the street. He was mildly amused that everyone had been so worried about him. That was SO GEORGE.

George drew his last breath on January 20. Simply put, George was

a simple man who was so very loved by all that knew him. He loved to laugh and even at the end, his sense of humor never failed him. George, you will be so missed. You were a wonderful husband, father and friend. Thank you for sharing your life with all of us.

George was proceeded in death by his mother and father, his brothers, Walter Lee and Virgil, his sister, Lorene Mathews, daughter, Pam Pasquineli, and his wife, Margaret.

George is survived by his son, Russell Townsend and his wife, Carol, of Richardson, daughter, Ginny Townsend of Garland, grandson Petty Officer Ian Townsend currently serving in the Navy in Bahrain, granddaughter, Christel Hull of Austin, granddaughter, Stephanie Hicks of Arlington, grandson Ben Vines of Lubbock, granddaughter, Barbra Vines of Garland, and nephews Barney and Barry Mathews.

George’s wishes were to be cremated and his ashes buried next to his beloved Margaret in the National Cemetery in Grand Prairie, TX. A memorial will be held for George in spring 2010 when nature once more brings forth life from the earth.

Sincerely,

Ginny and Russell Townsend and Family