Richard Townsend

MILLBURY  Richard “Rick” S. Townsend, 78, passed away on Friday, May 12th after a long illness. He leaves his wife of 55 years, Charlotte L. (Monigle) Townsend; his sons, Bradford and his wife, Deborah and Adam and his wife, Susana; his grandsons, Hunter, Ethan and his partner, Kerryn, Shaemus, Duncan and great-grandson, Finn; his sister Joyce Townsend Morse (Stephen), a brother Robert and his wife, Ellie, and a sister, Suzanne Townsend Champagne and her husband, Kevin; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was born in Worcester, the son of the late Warren G. and Muriel (Shaw) Townsend.

Rick graduated from North High School in Worcester. As a young teen, he worked as an “office boy” at Worcester Federal Savings Bank. He then worked for Peoples Savings Bank in Worcester for many years. In 1970, he began a 30-year career at Millbury Savings Bank, retiring in 2000 as a Senior Vice-President.  In his retirement, he was a Corporator of the Bank.

Rick was a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, 101st Tactical Control Squadron in Worcester, retiring after 25 years as a Senior Master Sergeant. He was a very proud “One-Oh-Wonder” and served his retired 101st and 212th servicemen as Treasurer of the 313th for several years.

Rick was a member of the Worcester Chapter Order of DeMolay and a holder of the Chevalier Degree, later serving as President and Treasurer of the Mass. DeMolay Scholarship Association. He was a Past Master of Olive Branch Lodge of Masons in Millbury, and held the office of Chaplain for over 30 years and was awarded the Joseph Warren Distinguished Service Medal. Rick was a District Deputy Grand Master for District 22 from 1994 to 1996 and was a member of the Scottish Rite and Aleppo Temple.

Rick was an active board member of the Millbury Council on Aging for over 33 years, serving as Chairman and Vice-Chairman. He was Ticket Chairman for the Old-Timers Banquet in Millbury for many years.

Rick enjoyed golfing at Clearview Country Club, but his pride-and-joy was his 1963 Austin Healey that he bought in 1965 and restored himself in the early 2000s. He attended many car shows and was a regular at the Friday Night Cruisin’ Nights at the Elks Lodge in Auburn, where he would banter with other British sportscar owners and even allowed children to sit in the Healey. He was very proud of his “wall of fame” that displayed his many trophies. He and Charlotte were members of the Austin Healey Club of New England for many years and enjoyed rallies, day trips, and weekend getaways with other Club members. In recent years, he would drive the backroads of Millbury and Sutton every afternoon, weather-permitting.

Rick was a lifelong and active member of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Worcester, serving on the Vestry, chairing the Audit Committee, and for many years working to maintain the Parish buildings and grounds as part of the Thursday Night Men’s Group.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, May 27th, at 10 a.m., in St. Matthew’s Church, 695 Southbridge St, Worcester.  Interment of ashes will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Rick’s name to the St. Matthew’s Memorial Fund, 695 Southbridge St., Worcester, MA 01610, the Olive Branch Lodge of Masons, PO Box 202, Millbury MA 01527, or Heroes in Transition, 22 Bates Rd, Ste 135, Mashpee MA 02649.