Rev. Morton Townsend

The Rev. Morton Townsend, 92, of Lancaster died Monday, October 1, 2007. He grew up in Petersburg and graduated from the University of Richmond before attending Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria.

At 92, Mr. Townsend was the oldest canonically resident Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Virginia. He served churches in Powhatan, Amelia, Lancaster, King George and Hanover Counties.

During his ministry in Hanover County, he founded The Church of the Creator in Mechanicsville. He retired from the ministry after serving Trinity and St. Mary's Whitechapel in Lancaster County.

He served as a U.S. Army chaplain during World War II and continued his service in the Virginia National Guard until his retirement. Lt. Col. Townsend was the chaplain for the officer Candidate School when he retired.

Surviving are his wife, Ellen. J. Townsend; two daughters, Nancy Larmore of Virginia Beach and Elizabeth Harris of Richmond; a son, James Morton Townsend of Houston, Texas; his devoted grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Nancy Moulton Townsend, and a son, Walter Scott Townsend.

He was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Lancaster, where his family will welcome friends to join them for an informal time of visiting and singing hymns from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4.

A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 5, at Trinity Episcopal Church, with the Rt. Rev. David Collin Jones, suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia, as celebrant and the Rev. Torrence Harmon, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church. Interment will be in St. Mary's Whitechapel cemetery, Lively.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church for the Morton Townsend Memorial Fund, Box 208, Lancaster, Va. 22503; or the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia for the Mustard Seed Fund, 110 W. Franklin St., Richmond, Va. 23220.