Townsend, Wilma Ryan   	

LINDEN - Wilma Ryan Townsend died September 7, 2007, in Linden, Texas. A Texas native, 
Mrs. Townsend was born in Harrison County December 17, 1917, daughter of Annie Rivers 
Findley and N.Q. Findley of Ashland, Texas. She was preceded in death by her husband, 
Gary Gerald Ryan, in 1966.

A retired teacher, Mrs. Townsend taught in the public schools of Texas for many years. 
Early in her career, she was a licensed radio operator with the American Radio Relay 
League. She was a past Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star in Texas and held 
a lifetime membership in that order.

In 1969, she was married to Judge Cedric Townsend of Parris, Texas, and served for 15 
years as legal assistant in the family law firm of Aikin and Townsend of Paris. She was 
a tireless advocate for the Mental Health and Retardation Association and served as a 
volunteer during the time she lived in Paris. Judge Townsend died in 1987.

In 1997, she became a member of First Baptist Church of Linden, and was active in the 
ENON Crisis Center program, Good Shepherd Hospital of Linden Auxiliary and a charter 
member of the Cass County Conservancy. As a member of the Linden Chamber of Commerce, 
she was active in civic affairs and recipient of the 2002 Linden Chamber of Commerce 
Civic award for service to the community. Mrs. Townsend was a member of the Cave Springs 
Friendship Club and the Writers' Club. She was patron of the Marshall Regional Arts 
Council and of Music City Texas.

Survivors include three daughters, Carolyn Haskell of Georgetown, Texas, Patricia Keesee 
of Linden, Texas, and Susan Marquess of Austin, Texas; one stepson, Tom Townsend of 
Austin, Texas; 13 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be at Reeder-Davis-Schindler Chapel from 5-7 p.m. today, September 9, 
2007. The funeral will be at First Baptist Church in Linden, at 2 p.m. Monday, September 
10. Burial will be in Memory Park in Longview.

Online guestbook may be signed at www.reeder-davis.com.

Published in the Longview News-Journal on 9/9/2007.