Donald Paul “Don” Townsend, 78, of Sellersburg, went home to be with his heavenly Father on July 17, 2018, at Clark Memorial Hospital. He attended Mount Tabor Elementary and was a New Albany High School graduate of the Class of 1958. Don was a varsity letterman on the baseball team and chose to be baptized into the Catholic faith at age 16. He married Virginia Graf on September 10, 1960, at St. Joseph Hill Catholic Church where he was a member for 57 years. During his time at St. Joseph Hill, Don designed the parish hall and served as a lector, usher, and former officer of the men’s club. Don proudly served his country as an Indiana National Guardsman from 1957 to 1965 and served his community in the Northside Optimist Club. He was a regular blood donor who donated over 60 pints to his community. He also was a Little League coach for several years at Mount Tabor Baseball Park, which he helped build years ago. Don was an architectural draftsman for CJ Garner and Robert Kissinger where he designed area churches, schools, and hospitals. He was a member of the Homebuilders Association and owned and operated Townsend Builders in the 1970s. He worked in construction his entire career and enjoyed woodworking, camping, hunting, fishing, NASCAR, and traveling.

Don was born on March 14, 1940, in Floyd County, Indiana, to the late Clarence Evart and Geneva (Schmidt) Townsend. Along with his parents, Don was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law, Raymond and Clara Mae Townsend; grandson, Marquis Popp; brother-in-law, Ted Graf; and mother- and father-in-law, Herman and and Jo Graf.

Don is survived by his wife of 57 years, Virginia (Graf) Townsend; children, Judy Popp (Ronnie), Gerry Townsend (Sarah), and Greg Townsend (Tina); grandchildren, Eric and Austin Popp, April (Townsend) Clark, Nick Townsend, Brandon Truesdell, and Nicole (Truesdell) Roth; great-grandchildren Kolbin, Elaine, Miles, Henry, Everett, Kingston, and Jakob; along with many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, July 19, 2018, at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions (3309 Ballard Lane, New Albany) and on Friday, July 20, 2018, after 10:00 a.m. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. Friday at St. John Paul II Catholic Church-St. Joseph Hill Campus with burial to follow in the church cemetery.

Contributions in Don’s memory may be made to St. John Paul II-St. Joseph Hill Campus (216 Scheller Avenue, Sellersburg, Indiana 47172) or to the Crusade for Children.

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