Obituaries
 By  Staff Reports Published 
12:55 pm Monday, February 29, 2016

Eugene “Gene” Townsend

February 25, 2016

Eugene “Gene” Townsend, 82, departed this life Feb. 25 at Sanctuary Hospice, Tupelo, Miss. He was born March 27, 1933, to William Jefferson “Willie” and Flora Humphres Townsend in the Burnout Community, Vina, where he has lived the past 55 years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in the Korean War, and a member of Burnout Missionary Baptist Church.

Services were Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. at Burnout Missionary Baptist Church, Vina, with Bro. Tim Harris officiating. Burial was in Burnout Cemetery, Vina.

Survivors are his wife of 64 years – Geneva Wilson Townsend, Burnout Community, Vina; one son – Alan Townsend and his wife, Carole Spearman Townsend, Vernon; two grandsons – William Burke “Will”  Townsend and Alan Collier Townsend, both of Vernon; a brother – Raymond Townsend and wife Margie of Brook Park, Ohio; three sisters – Nell Hall, Russellville, Evangeline Hughes, Phil Campbell, and Margaret Fikes, Fulton, Miss.; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a 10-month old twin sister, Eutrene Townsend, a brother, Everett Townsend, and a sister, Opal Klatt.

Pallbearers were Richard Townsend, Tommy Townsend, Gary Williams, Terry Humphres, Donald Gober and Danny Shewbart.

The family wishes to thank everyone for their support during Eugene’s sickness, death and their loss. Thanks to the Red Bay Hospital Emergency Room, ECM Hospital, doctors and staff for their kindness, Sanctuary Hospice, Tupelo, Miss., for their loving kindness and care for Eugene and Deaton Funeral Home for their services.

Visitation was Feb. 28, 2-4 p.m. at Burnout Missionary Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Burnout Missionary Baptist Church.

Also on Franklin County Times
Franklin D-1 commission race heads to runoff
Franklin County, News, Z - News Main
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
May 20, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Residents of District 1 will have to wait a little longer to learn who their representative on the Franklin County Commission will be a...
Clark wins Franklin coroner’s race
Franklin County, News, Russellville, ...
Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
May 20, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Jeff Clark defeated incumbent Charles Adcox in the Republican primary for Franklin County coroner Tuesday night, winning 75.25% of the ...
Oliver secures fifth term as Franklin County Sheriff
News, Russellville, Z - News Main
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
May 20, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Incumbent Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver will remain in office for at least four more years after he overwhelmingly won re-elec...
CPR training among department services
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
May 20, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — City firefighters are trying to get the word out to the public about a variety of free services they offer, including CPR classes and b...
Lighting project to begin soon
Main, News, Red Bay, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
May 20, 2026
RED BAY — Mayor Mike Shewbart said construction on a lighting project along the Alabama Highway 24/Corridor V entrance is expected to begin soon. The ...
Foster care shortage forcing children out of county
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
May 20, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — A shortage of foster homes in Franklin County is forcing children to be placed in homes throughout Alabama, increasing travel demands o...
THS rocketry team finishes 54th in nationals
News, Russellville, Z - News Main
th in nationals THS rocketry team finishes 54
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
May 20, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The Tharptown High School rocketry team finished 54th at the 2026 American Rocketry Challenge national finals on Saturday in The Plains...
Delta Kappa Gamma honors educators
Columnists, News
HERE AND NOW
May 20, 2026
As retired educators gathered for the Delta Kappa Gamma Alpha Upsilon Chapter spring banquet at First Highlands Church of Christ in Russellville, memo...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *