WESTFIELD – Roberta J. (Bobbie) Townsend, 85, of Webster Road, Westfield, NY, died Sunday (February 7, 2016) at UPMC Hamot Hospital in Erie, PA.
Bobbie was born October 31, 1930 in Camden, NJ, the daughter of the late Jesse and Elizabeth Coles Vennel. She graduated from Haddonfield NJ High School in 1948 and married Ralph J. Townsend in 1951 in Camden, NJ. Bobbie moved to Berks County, PA in 1960 where she lived the majority of her adult life raising her family and working as a short order cook at Wegman's Family Diner and Bocov's East. Bobbie was known for her love of family and light-hearted spirit. In her retirement she enjoyed reading, crocheting, needlework, family outings to Cape May, NJ and traveling with her daughters and their friends
She is survived by her six children, Roberta Townsend Vennel of Alaska, Richard Townsend (Betty Perkins) of Westfield, Ruth Townsend of Virginia, Ralph (Marsha) Townsend, of Pennsylvania, Russell (Dianne) Townsend of Tennessee, and Jesse Townsend of Pennsylvania; and her five grandchildren, Japhet, Joshua, Kelly, Justin, and Josiah. She was preceded in Death by her husband, Ralph, her only brother, William Jesse Vennel and her beloved friend and sister-in-law, Leah Townsend.
A private memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family. The Freay Funeral Home in Mayville is in charge of arrangements.
To light a candle or leave a remembrance of Bobbie, visit www.freayfuneralhome.com.