Billy Gene Townsend

Billy Gene Townsend, 77, of Taylor passed away Friday, Nov. 9, 2007 at his residence.
Billy was born to B.F. and Gladys (Berry) Townsend in Taylor, Texas, on Oct. 19, 1930. He graduated from Hutto High School and married Shirley Ging in 1953. He served in the U.S. Navy on the John W. Thompson during the Korean War for four years. Upon discharge, he worked at American D

esk.
In 1965, after returning to college to get his teaching degree, he began his teaching career in Lockhart, where he taught Building Trades for five years. In 1970 his family moved back to Taylor, where he taught CVAE Boys at Taylor Middle School and eventually moved to Taylor High School where he taught Building Trades until he retired in 1994 after 30 years in the field of education. He was a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.
The four things that were most important in Bill”s life were his family, his students, his woodshop and his jokes. His greatest joy in life was his family and the time he spent with them.
His next joy in life was his students. He always said that he tried to teach his students to be respectful of others and it was apparent that he was successful when some of his students came to see him in his final days even though he had been retired for years.
Bill loved working with wood and spent hours and hours in his workshop. Many of the bird houses, benches, swings and cabinets seen in yards and homes throughout Taylor and surrounding towns were built by him in his shop.
Other than his wood working skills, the one thing Bill will be most remembered for was his love for telling jokes. He began most conversations with the six words: “Did you hear the one about….” and he loved to see people laugh.
He was preceded in death by his parents, B.F. and Gladys Berry Townsend.
Bill survived by his wife Shirley Ging Townsend; daughter, Cynthia Rene Hehmann and husband, Randy; son, Kenneth Gene Townsend and wife Beverly; four grandchildren, Dawn Stuckly and husband, Jeff, Keith Hehmann, Courtney Murphy, and Kyle Kaiser; his only brother, Bobby Townsend and wife, Gladys of Taylor; brothers-in-law, Curtis Ging and wife, Tracie of Granger and Glen Roy Ging and wife, Dorothy of Taylor; eight nieces and seven nephews.
Visitation was held from 6 – 8 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 12, 2007 at Providence Funeral Home. Celebration of Life services were held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007, at Providence Funeral Home with Pastor Steve Best officiating. Burial followed at the Taylor City Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Keith Hehmann, Jeffrey Stuckly, Byron Townsend, Michael Townsend, Bobby Ging and Ricky Ging.
Friends are invited to share their words of comfort in an online tribute established at www.Providencefuneralhome.com in memory of Billy Gene Townsend.
Services under the care and direction of Providence Funeral Home, 807 NW Carlos Parker Blvd. P. O. Box 1064 Taylor, Texas 76574 (512) 352-5909.