Myron Earle Townsend

Elks Conduct Earle Townsend Funeral Service

Funeral service was held December 8 for Myron Earle Townsend, 51, at the Peet Chapel. Mr. Townsend died December 5 in Casper after gallantly fighting cancer for several years.

The Elks funeral and graveside service was conducted by the B.P.O. Elks Lodge #1797 team led by Dr. Richard Collins and including George Walker, esteemed leading knight; Jerry Wasserburger, esteemed loyal knight; Robert Glenn, esteemed lecturing knight; Ray Olafson, esquire; Fred Bartelt, chaplain; and Dave Cook, secretary.

Organist was Mrs. A. F. DeCastro who accompanied a quartette in singing "Beyond The Sunset" and "Beautiful Isle." Members of the quartette were Mrs. Walter Fernau, Mrs. Bill Cole, Harry Lyon and Lee Johnsonbaugh.

Casket bearers were Roger Percival, Cliff Mangus, Ray Edwards, Buzz Spencer, Ronald Fowler and Claude Selby.

Weiten Dupes Post #4 also conducted military rites at the graveside service including the playing of taps and presentation of the flag.

Myron Earle Townsend was born Jan. 29, 1922, at Whitman to Myron L. and Laura L. Townsend. He started school at Pine Knot and attended school at Kirtley. He graduated with the class of 1940 from Lusk High School.

Mr. Townsend volunteered for the Navy in June 1941 and went overseas when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He was discharged in 1946 with the rank of Motor Machinist Mate 1st Class.

He spent most of his life in the trucking business until he bought the Silver Cliff Hotel in Lusk in 1963. He owned and operated the hotel until 1972 when he was employed by the Niobrara County Road Department.

Mr. Townsend was married to Theresa Bartow in 1964 in Casper.

He was a member of the Lusk Volunteer Fire Department and served as president for one year.

He was a member of the Lusk Elks Lodge, received the Elk of the Year Award for 1971-72, and was serving as Exalted Ruler for 1973-74. He was also a member of the American Legion.

Survivors include his wife Theresa; three children from a previous marriage, Mrs. Wanda Reece of Douglas, Randisue Lewis of Casper and Stanley Townsend of Tucson, Ariz.; two stepchildren Gene Bartow of Lusk and Mrs. Vickie Scott of Lander; one sister, Mrs. Esther Selby of Lusk and one brother, Leroy of Seattle, Wash. and eight grandchildren.

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