- Date Of Birth: April 13, 1944
- Date Of Death: August 19, 2021
- City: Palatka
- State: Florida
William L. “Bill” Townsend Jr., known as “Buck” to his family, died Thursday, August 19, 2021, in Fleming Island suddenly. In his 77 years, Bill lived many lives. But in his final years, he was first and foremost caretaker and husband to his wife of 51 years, Judy Townsend, who died just one week before Bill on August 12.
Bill was the oldest of seven children born to William L. “Bill” Townsend Sr. and Lois Walton Townsend. He was born on April 13, 1944, while Bill Sr. was in England waiting to take part in the allied invasion of France to defeat the Nazis. Bill Sr. and Lois, a pillar of St. Monica’s Catholic Church, modeled bravery, kindness, honor, and sacrifice for Bill Jr. They also helped instill a lifelong love of words and knowledge.
These values collided in the pivotal moment of Bill’s life. As a successful young English teacher at Palatka High School, Bill kept his word to join the Great Florida Teacher strike of 1968, even though he would be sent to Vietnam as a draftee. Just prior to deployment, Bill met his future wife Judy in the Atlanta airport when he noticed she was reading “The Autobiography of Mark Twain.”
Like his father before him, Bill fought in the infantry, rising to staff sergeant in the 25th Division. He was wounded and nearly killed by a grenade during an ambush while on patrol near Cu Chi in 1969. He recuperated in Japan and married Judy on October 4, 1969, shortly after his return to the U.S.
After Vietnam, Bill left the classroom to become a lawyer. He joined the family law firm founded by his grandfather J.V. Walton and aunt Kate Walton Engelken, who was one of the first female trial lawyers in Florida history. The firm that became “Walton and Townsend” had fought abuses of power from the 1920s Florida Ku Klux Klan to famed Florida writer Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ invasion of privacy of one of her neighbors. Bill upheld this tradition of honor and legal skill by winning landmark land use and civil rights cases as a private attorney. In a brief stint as one of Florida’s top environmental officials under Gov. Bob Graham, Bill was named the first-ever honorary citizen of Orange County for his work on behalf of clean water. He was Putnam County School Board attorney for a number of years, as well as serving many other public agencies and community institutions.
Inside the courtroom and outside the courtroom, Bill fought and suffered to protect vulnerable people (often women) from abuses of official government power when no one else would. And he did so with the steadfast support of Judy, who ran his office and organized his life. Bill served as inspiration and mentor to many young lawyers in Putnam County who went on to great success.
Throughout the epic sweep of Bill’s life, he found childlike glee in torturing the English language with silly puns and jokes. This endeared him to all nieces and nephews and cousins, even when his wife and children might roll their eyes. He came to love physics and learning about the mechanics of creation, which he revered. He adored his grandchildren and was happiest when they’d climb into his lap in his favorite chair and discuss the wonders of science and oddities of the world with him.
As a father, Bill was deeply committed to the happiness and opportunities of his children and loved them dearly. He enjoyed their company, provided loving affirmation, and took endless pride and joy in their studies and athletic games. He introduced them to Shakespeare and Tolkein, which he could quote at stupefying length on demand. But the quotation he most revered came from his grandfather J.V. Walton: “Without courage, no other virtue is worth a damn.” Bill taught that to his children and demonstrated it to his community.
Bill suffered a terrible brain injury in 2018 and yet managed to repair himself so that he could accompany and comfort Judy as she struggled with Alzheimer’s in the final years of her life. He remained a brilliant conversationalist until the day he died.
Bill Townsend Jr. was preceded in death by Judy Townsend, his wife of 51 years. He was also preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Jimmy Townsend, and his brother-in-law, Tom Pate.
Bill is survived by his daughter, Lee Bramley Townsend and Lee’s husband, Nico Olivares; by his son William L. “Billy” Townsend, III and Billy’s wife, Julie O. Townsend; by his grandchildren: Matias and Lucia Olivares; Collin Townsend, Ian Townsend, Corinne Townsend Trotter and Corinne’s husband Bailey Trotter; and by his brothers and sisters and in-laws: John Townsend and wife Kathy Townsend; Clay Townsend and wife, Sue Townsend; Tom Townsend and wife, Denise Townsend; Sophie Ducote and husband, Jimmy Ducote; Lois Ann Williams and husband, George Williams; and sisters-in-law, Rena Townsend and Vicki Pate. He is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews in whom he took great pleasure.
