Robert W. Townsend

Denton Record-Chronicle - (Sep/27/2005)

Robert Wayne Townsend

DENTON — Robert Wayne Townsend died Sunday, Sept. 25, 2005, at home, at age 49.  Wayne was born Sept. 11, 1956, in Denton, Texas.  He graduated from Denton High School in 1976, where he met and later married Cynthia Clark.  For the next 30 years, Wayne was self-employed as an industrial X-ray technician by night.  By day, he worked as a medical doctor, bank robber, barbecue master chef, Olympic volleyball hopeful, racecar driver, professional baseball player, seamstress, barber, undercover operative for the CIA and Santa Claus.  And he was the best storyteller since Mark Twain.  Unfortunately, much of his activity was undocumented and undercover, and he used many aliases, so the remaining body of his work is undisclosed.

Wayne was preceded in death by his father, Robert W. Townsend, and his sister Tammy Faulkner, who shared his birthday.  He is survived by his mother, Charlene Townsend of Denton; his sisters, Kathy Butler of Arkansas and Lisa DeMore of Aubrey; one brother, Tony Townsend of Tennessee; one brother-in-law, David DeMore; three children, Aubrey Townsend Lively, Leslie Townsend Ferguson and R. Walker Townsend; and two sons-in-law, Landon Lively and David Ferguson.  He is also survived by grandchildren John and Grace Lively. Although his final wishes were to be taken to a taxidermist, honorary pallbearers are Reed Sallee and Eddi Millichamp.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, at Denton Funeral Home, followed by a memorial service at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, at the Denton Funeral Home Chapel.  Arrangements are under the direction of Denton Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

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