David Eugene Townsend

David Eugene Townsend, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend passed away peacefully in his sleep the morning of August 11, from Parkinson's Disease and Lewy Body dementia. He was born on August 14, 1947 to Dallas and Margaret Townsend. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 56 years, Pat King Townsend; daughters, Lisa Hilborn (Matt), Christy Sherman, and "adopted daughter," Starr Sink and her son, Salem. David adored and was so proud of his six grandchildren: Evan, Isaac, Maddie, Micah "Moji," Carrie and Ben. Also left to mourn his passing are his brother, Dr. Kenneth Townsend and wife, Diann, of Myrtle Beach.

David finished his undergraduate work at LINC-Chapel Hill, and his graduate work at Florida State University, where he earned a Masters and a Ph.D., in chemistry. He worked for R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in Winston-Salem, for twenty-seven years and was Executive Vice President of Research and Development when he retired.

David loved to travel and visited every continent, sometimes for business and sometimes for pleasure. He, also, loved the time he spent on his boat on Lake Norman.

David's passion was to help those in need. He orchestrated the resettlement of many Cambodian refugees in the early '80's. The first to come were Nary Keo; her mother, Ching Sea; daughters, Manirath, Monisophan, and Sopheap; and sons, Thearayouk and Sarapech. They are, and always have been, an important part of our family.

We would like to thank David's caregivers from the bottom of our hearts: Padma, Margaret, Rebecca, Candice and Debbie, and his Hospice team, Lorrie, Angela, and Renee, who took such loving care of David.  We love you all!

Visitation will be at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Troutman on Wednesday, August 16, at 12:00 Noon, with service to follow at 1:00 pm, Pastor Dieter Punt presiding. A graveside service will be held at 4:00 PM in God's Acre in Old Salem, Winston-Salem. Troutman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

If you would like to remember David, we ask that, in lieu of flowers, you make a donation to the Social Ministry Committee of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, PO Box 308, Troutman, NC 28166; Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Rd, Statesville, NC 28625, or a charity of your choice.

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