Joseph Lee Townsley passed away on December 14, 2023. He was born in Alameda, California on September 21, 1944, to Anna Belle (ne Owensby) and Joseph Lee Townsley, Sr. He had 6 siblings. When Joe was 7, he moved to Chagrin Falls, OH, to live with his aunt and uncle.
Later they moved to Barrington, IL, where Joe attended Western Military Academy. When he was 17, they moved to San Raphael, CA. Joe was a track and field athlete in high school. After graduation, he served in the Air Force for 9 years. He spent 3 years in Japan in the Strategic Air Command. Since then, he loved everything Japanese, even learning the language. Joe settled in the San Francisco Bay area, working in the developing computer industry.
He met the love of his life at Singer-Frieden, convincing her to marry him after 3 years of pursuit on December 28, 1974. Joe spent his entire career in Silicon Valley where he retired as Manager of hardware and network services at his wife’s software firm, LTC, Inc. In 2005, he and his wife, Louisa, moved to Indianapolis to be near his mother-in-law who was failing in health. They spent time in Bradenton at Twin Dolphin Marina on his 42-foot Catalina. Joe loved sailing, genealogy, reading, and sampling bourbon and wine-time on the neighbor's front porch. He enjoyed spending long hours in his pool at his Bradenton home.
In addition to his wife, he leaves behind his precious cat, Izzy; cousins, Bruce Cowell of Elyria, OH, Annett Tatum of Gainesville, TX, Bob Tweddell of Susanville, CA; niece, Holly Costa of Surprise, AZ, and many other nieces, nephews, and special friends in Indianapolis and Bradenton.
Memorial services will be announced at a later date. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel, 604 43rd Street West, Bradenton, FL 34209, is in charge of arrangements. If you would like to make a gift in his memory, please consider his pet charities St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Wounded Warrior Project.
