Obituaries

Tom Ed Townsend

Tom Ed Townsend, M.D., 88, of Pine Bluff died peacefully and comfortably in the pediatric ward of JRMC, a hospital he helped develop over the past 60 years, on Friday, June 7, 2013. Born Thomas Edward Townsend in a depot in Willow, Ark. on June 8, 1924, a son of the late Charlie Lee and Emma Myers Townsend, he graduated from Gurdon High school and attended Henderson State Teachers College (now Henderson State University, where he was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus in 1988). He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1944 and served on the USS Randolph until 1945. He married Wanda Lane Dec. 22, 1946 in Texarkana. Mrs. Townsend died in 2010. The couple moved to Little Rock while he attended UAMS medical school, graduating in 1950. After completing his internship at Lloyd Nolan Hospital in Birmingham, Ala., he did a pediatric residency at Kern General Hospital in California where he was Chief Resident 1952-1953. He moved his young family to Pine Bluff in 1953, where he began a pediatric practice and co-founded the Children's Clinic. An active member of Pine Bluff First United Methodist Church and member and teacher in its Danho Sunday School class, he was a devout member, serving in innumerable capacities in leadership roles. Survivors include two sons, Dr. Thomas E. Townsend Jr. (Janet) of Bristol, Va., R. Mark Townsend of Pine Bluff; daughters, Sherry Townsend Owen (Jim) of Conway, Ark., Elizabeth Townsend Talbot (Beau) of White Hall; grandchildren, Lauren Elizabeth Talbot, Sarah Townsend Owen, Jefferson Talbot (Kassi), Townsend Elise Talbot, Edward Hunter Owen, Luke McBryde Townsend, Thomas Lane Townsend; great-granddaughters, Eevi Bliss and Taran Liv Talbot; and sister, Joy Westbrook of Benton, Arkansas. He was also preceded in death by a son, C. Lane Townsend, and granddaughter, Tara Talbot. In addition to being president of Greenback Investors Inc., Dr. Townsend has served as chief of staff at Jefferson Regional Medical Center, president of Jefferson County Medical Society, chairman of the Council of the Arkansas Medical Society, president of the Arkansas Medical Society, delegate to the American Medical Association, diplomat of the American Board of Pediatrics, and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, past chairman of the board, Jefferson County-Pine Bluff Health Department; board of Blue Cross-Blue Shield; charter member of the Southeast Mental Health Center, medical advisor to ACCESS (an organization developed to help prevent teenage pregnancy). He also served as clinical professor of Pediatrics at UAMS and Arkansas Children's Hospital. Dr. Townsend was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society in 1984. He received the UAMS Distinguished Alumni Award presented by the Arkansas Caduceus Club in 1990 and was inducted into the UAMS College of Medicine Hall of Fame in 2004. In 2007, Arkansas Children's Hospital established the Tom Ed Townsend award to recognize physicians for their community service and excellence in pediatric practice. Townsend is known for his love and care of children, enthusiasm, diligence, wit, intelligence and wisdom. Townsend taught many medical students in senior rotations, and all but one has chosen pediatrics as their specialty. Services are Tuesday, June 11, 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church with Reverend David Fleming and Reverend Fred Arnold officiating. Interment follows in Bellwood Cemetery by Ralph Robinson and Son. Visitation is Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Robinson's. Memorials are requested to First United Methodist Church, Box 8003, Pine Bluff, Ark., 71611 or The Tom Ed Townsend M.D. Endowed Fund for Cancer, Arkansas Children's Hospital Foundation, 1 Children's Way, Slot 661, Little Rock, Ark. 72202-3591. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.

Published June 9, 2013

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