Obituary of Juanita Townsend

Juanita S. Townsend, 85, passed away December 10, 2014, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She was a resident of Epworth Villa Retirement Community, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Juanita was born in Valliant, Oklahoma to Clark and Ethel Townsend on August 16, 1929. She was one of 12 children. After attending Valliant High School, Juanita moved to Oklahoma City where she was employed by Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. She retired in February, 1979, after more than thirty-one years of dedicated service. Post-retirement, she went to work for the Oklahoma State Senate, earning her a second retirement after twenty years of loyal service as a switchboard operator. Juanita was a long time member of St. Luke’s Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. She was also a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Juanita was prideful of her Indian heritage and her family. She loved to come to McCurtain County to visit relatives and friends. In recent years she was an avid supporter of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Juanita was preceded in death by her parents, Clark and Ethel Townsend; two sisters, Pauline Tidwell and Lucy Stephens; five brothers, Bill, Sam, Joe Clark, Brunson and Pushmataha Townsend; and her dearest friend for over fifty years, Tom Myers. Juanita is survived by her sisters, Mary Daniels of Idabel, Oklahoma, Sarah Dunaway of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Jane Whitten and husband Bobby of Idabel, Oklahoma and Pat Privott and husband Norman of McLoud, Oklahoma; sister-in-law, Carol Townsend of Clay Center, Ne. She leaves her siblings, her nieces and nephews and numerous family members and friends a lifetime of loving memories. Funeral services will be held at the White Family Funeral Home Chapel, Idabel, Oklahoma, on Monday, December 15, 2014 at 2:00 p.m., with burial at Valliant Cemetery, Valliant, Oklahoma. Juanita’s nephews, Father Joe Townsend and Rev. Jimmy Townsend will officiate.