Memorial

Delores E. Townsend, age 93, of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, September 25, 2014 at Northbrook Manor Care Center.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday, October 4, 2014 at Stonebridge Church officiated by Pastor Randy Scheil.  A private family graveside service will take place at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. 

Delores is survived by three daughters: Karen (Dave) Arends of Hardy, Virginia; Sharen (John) Weeks of Cedar Rapids; and Carol (Chuck) Swore of Cedar Rapids; seven grandchildren: Randy (Robin) Arends of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Robert (Katherine) Arends of Gibsonville, North Carolina; Teresa (Peter) Eklund of Lincoln, Nebraksa; Tami Rae Kellerman of Rockford, Illinois; Kurt (Angie) Koebler of Hudson, Wisconsin; Trisha (Jim) Young of Cedar Rapids; and Tim Swore of Grand Rapids, Michigan; 20 great-grandchildren; two nephews; and five nieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband Carylton in 2003; her parents; sister Marvel Vickroy; brother Howard Gardner; and two best friends: Tuffy and Miss Kitty.

Delores was born April 6, 1921 in Olin, Iowa to Hubert Eugene and Elmira (Robinson) Gardner.  She was united in marriage to Carylton A. Townsend on December 31, 1938 in Cedar Rapids.  She was a homemaker for most of her life, but also worked as a bookkeeper for Armstrong and Bishop’s.  She later worked as a cook at Madison Elementary School.

She was a member of Cedar Christian Church, and later a member of Disciples of Christ.  She was a member of the Esther Club and volunteered at the We Care Shop.  Delores was a Camp Fire Girls and Bluebird Leader.  She was a member of the PTA when her children were in school, and she was a member of the Praha Rebecca Lodge where she served as Noble Grand several times.

Delores belonged to two card clubs, one in her neighborhood and another through church.  She loved to stay busy doing projects.  She was an accomplished seamstress, and a “yarn guru” who was skilled in crochet and knitting.  She loved cooking and baking; she was known for her molasses cookies, peanut butter fudge, and especially her farmhouse apple pie.

Delores had a green thumb; she enjoyed planting vegetables and canning, as well as planting flowers, especially day lilies, daisies, and her favorite, roses.  She was an avid Iowa Hawkeyes Basketball fan.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the caring staff at Northbrook Manor, as well as the nurses and staff of Unity Point Hospice.

Memorials in Delores’s name may be directed to Northbrook Manor Care Center.