Warren Claude Townsend

            Warren Claude Townsend was born July 9, 1940, to Eddie and Katherine Ward Townsend in Atchison, KS and passed on March 6, 2024 in Independence, KS.  He attended Wichita Public Schools, graduating from North High in 1958.  In high school Warren ran cross country, played tennis and was on the swim team where he set four school records that stood for 10 years.  He also sang in the select choir and ensemble and was a soloist.

            Warren graduated from Friends University with a BA in Music Education in January 1964.  He sang with the Singing Quakers and was a soloist with them.  He earned his Masters Degree in Music Education from Wichita State University and was a soloist with the select choir.  He was a soloist with the Wichita Choral Society, the Sumner County Choral Society, the Colby Choral Society, the Garden City Choral Society, Parsons Community Choir and Independence Community Choir.  Several of these performances were of Handel’s “Messiah” and Dubois’ “Seven Last Words of Christ” where Warren sang the tenor roles.

            Warren taught in Kansas public schools for 42 years in Neodesha, Mulvane, Garden City, Wellington, and Independence.  While teaching music, directing church choirs, and community groups he directed performances of “Amahl and the Night Visitors”, “Jesus Christ, Superstar”, “Trouble in Tahiti” by Bernstein, “The Seven Last Words of Christ”, J.S. Bach’s “Christ Lay in Death’s Dark Prison”, Handel’s “Messiah”, “Beginnings” by Redd and Courtney, “Oklahoma”, “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown”, “Adam and Eve”, selections from J.S. Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio" and several other major works.

            Warren was an avid white tail deer bow hunter.  He has seven Pope and Young trophies, plus four other Kansas State trophies.  He loved wilderness camping and made five treks to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area bordering the US and Canada.  He and Betty played bridge regularly, and they traveled extensively in the US and Canada.

            Warren joined the Boy Scouts of America in 1948 as a Cub.  He proceeded through the ranks, earning the Eagle Scout rank before turning 12.

            Warren was a member of the First Christian Church of Parsons, KS, North Star Masonic Lodge, Order of Eastern Star, and the NRA.  He was a life member of the National Education Association.  His church affiliations have been with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the Presbyterian Church (USA).

            Warren married Betty Danby on June 23, 1962.   Betty died in 2019, a month before their 57th anniversary.

            He is preceded in death by his wife Betty, his parents Eddie and Katherine Townsend, his younger brother Loyd, his sister-in-laws Helen and Jane, and his brother-in-laws Robert “Bobby” Danby and Ernest Hesford. He is survived by one brother, two sons, their wives, four grandchildren, and many other family members.

            A memorial service for Warren is planned for May 25th, 3:00 pm at 1500 South 29th Street in Parsons, Kansas, the combined First Christian and First Presbyterian Church.