Ruth Townsend

Ruth Margaret “Peggy” (Whitney) Townsend, 84, of Knoxville, Tenn., and formerly of Logansport, passed away peacefully Monday, Nov. 22, 2010, after a short illness.

Peggy was born Jan. 26, 1926, and raised in Logansport, where she was a pianist for the high school chorus. In her 20s, Peggy composed the winning entry in a contest to determine the Logansport High School song, which is still in use today. She was honored at a half-time ceremony during an LHS basketball game in 1989 in acknowledgment of this contribution to her alma mater.

Peggy and her husband, Rev. Lowell Townsend, served in ministry with the United Methodist Church throughout northern Indiana for over 40 years before moving to Tennessee in 1995.

A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Peggy joins her loving husband, Lowell; son, Ben; sister, Dorothy Jackson; brother, Edwin Whitney; and parents, Dolph and Emma Whitney, in heaven.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Joel and Linda Townsend; daughter and son-in-law, Kate and Larry Kunk; grandchildren, Larrison Grace Linsner, Whitney Linsner, David Townsend, Bethany Townsend, Susannah (Brian) Finley and Jacob (Catherine) Townsend; and great-granddaughter, Olivia Finley.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel in Knoxville, with Rev. Michael G. Sluder officiating. Peggy will be laid to rest at Mount Hope Cemetery in Logansport beside her beloved husband, Lowell.

Online condolences may be sent to www.gundrumfuneralhome.com.

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