Jeanne Guild Townsend

Jeanne Guild Townsend, 93, passed away on May 17, 2018 in Williamsburg, Michigan. Jeanne was the daughter of Mildred Reed Guild and Bernard (Bun) Guild. She was born November 14, 1924, in Albion, Indiana and grew up in Milroy, Indiana. After graduating from DePauw University, she completed the secretarial program at the Katharine Gibbs school in 1947. She worked as an executive secretary at General Motors and Ford. She met her husband, Maurice “Bud” Townsend, on a blind date on November 15, 1952. They were married on December 19, 1953. Together they made homes in Cleveland, Ohio, and Jackson, Elk Rapids, and Traverse City, Michigan. Jeanne, along with Bud, was active in politics for many years. She met presidential candidate Wendell Willkie in 1940, was an Eisenhower girl in 1952, and went on to be a delegate at the Republican National Conventions of 1972 and 1976. She once hosted Barbara Bush in her home, and in Jeanne’s final weeks, as she struggled with speaking, she relished hearing caregivers embellish the story for her, saying it got better with the retelling. She enjoyed boating and traveling with Bud, winters in Hawaii, good food, good music, and good “philosophical” conversations, generally revolving around ethics, values, or psychology. She also lived by certain “precepts”: Don’t be hasty to judge; never lie so that you will have a clear conscience and memory; be prepared to like people; overcome shyness by putting others at ease. Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bud, and her brother Paul Guild. She is survived by her daughters Jenny Townsend and Kathy (Paul) Weiner, grandchildren Ben (Linda) Weiner and Laura (Dan) Nicla, two great grandchildren, Rosalie and Louis Weiner, niece Pat Guild and nephew Mark (Linda) Guild. Jeanne endured over two years confined to bed with grace and good humor. She prided herself in her editing abilities even after her vision was impacted by a stroke and remarked, “Ha! I may be paralyzed and half blind, but I can still proofread!” The family would like to thank the many long-term caregivers and advisors who gave their love, friendship, and support to Jeanne and the family. A memorial gathering will be held on Monday, May 28, 2018, Memorial Day, to celebrate Jeanne's life at 4:30 pm at the activity room at Samaritas. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, Hospice of Michigan, or the charity of your choice. The family is being cared for by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com

Jeanne Guild Townsend

November 14, 1924 - May 17, 2018