Earl E. Townsend Jr.

Sharon, Vermont-

Earl E. Townsend Jr., 68, died peacefully in the care of family and friends Friday, December 2, 2011 at the DHMC in Lebanon, NH.

Earl was born August 25, 1943 in Providence, RI, the son of Earl and Irene (Burr) Townsend. He graduated from Cranston West High School, Class of 1961, and attended the Rhode Island School of Electronics in Providence. Earl was married September 11, 1965 to the love of his life, Nancy McTammany. He was employed by General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, CT, as an Electronics Mechanic for seventeen years, then by the Coventry, RI, School District, in maintenance, for nine years. In 1986 they moved to Sharon and he worked for Quechee Lakes Association, Dartmouth College, Purity and finally the South Royalton School District.

Earl was active in his community and workplace. He was a twenty year member of the Hopkins Hill Fire Department in Coventry, RI, where he served for a time as Rescue Captain. He was the first volunteer firefighter in RI to be awarded an EMT. He was also a proud member of the Sharon Fire Department and the South Royalton Rescue Squad. Earl served as a coach and a manager for the Coventry Little League from 1967-1970 and as a Pop Warner Football coach in Warwick, RI from 1971-1986. He continued to coach Little League in Sharon. Earl was a foster parent with Casey Family Services, along with his wife Nancy before her death, from 1994 to 2009. They touched many lives during that time, especially the fifteen children they brought into their home. Earl was a member of the IBEW Local #261 in Groton, CT, Vice President of Council 94 Local 2668 ASUME, Vice President of IAE Local #6 in Coventry, RI, member of the Rhode Island Fish & Game Protective Association, and a Life Member of the Rhode Island Firemen's League. Earl loved animals, music, and playing games, but what he enjoyed the most was spending time with his loved ones. His life's goal was to make a difference to as many people as possible, especially kids.

Earl is predeceased by his wife Nancy in 2001 and son Scott in 1991.

He is survived by a son Joseph W. Martin Sgt. USMC and wife Nicole of Jacksonville, NC; a daughter Jennifer L. Thresher of Vershire, VT; an uncle, Elmer F. Burr of Rutland, VT; two aunts, Mildred Burr of Columbus, GA, Peg Jones of Albany, NY, and many cousins and friends.

A memorial service will be held Thursday at 6PM, at the Sharon Congregational Church in Sharon, VT, interment will be at a later date in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Stockbridge, VT.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Volunteer Fire Department, c/o Rex Dyer, Sharon, VT 05065. Or the Hopkins Hills Fire Department, 1 Bestwick Trail, Coventry, RI 02816.