Clyde Harold Townsend

Mr. Clyde H. Townsend, of Dothan moved to his Heavenly home on Saturday, March 16, 2019. After a short illness, he died at home with family in attendance.

He was born in Fulton County, Georgia on July 9, 1926 to James Warner Townsend and Lillian Esther Hallman. He spent his childhood there with his six brothers and one sister. He joined the Navy in 1944. Following his service, he followed a Navy buddy and good friend to Clinton, NC. He started a business there, and while attending church services, met Eloise Merritt, whom he discovered was his one true love. He moved to Stone Mountain, Georgia and opened a business there…all the while travelling back and forth to see his love. They married and moved to Dothan in January of 1950. He became the owner of Dothan Harley Davidson, and remained in the motorcycle business all his life. In 1962, he acquired the Honda Franchise and changed the name to Honda of Dothan, today known as Dothan Power Sports. He was a member of The Headland Avenue Baptist Church and Memphis Baptist Church until 1963 when he and his family joined Southside Baptist. He served his church every year in some capacity. He was a deacon, a trustee for the church, a treasurer, worked with the youth along with his wife, and directed an Adult Sunday School Dept.

He and his wife had two daughters, Tonja Lynn Townsend, who married Donald Hanlan Owens and Joy Annette Townsend who married Thomas Louis McKibben.

He had five grandchildren, Adam Ryan Owens, who married Suzanne Horn, Alex Townsend Owens, Ian David Owens, Tara Suzanne McKibben, who married Will Bush, and Lori Lynn McKibben. He was blessed also to have two great-grandchildren, John Thomas Bush and Levi Hampton Owens. The grandchildren loved and respected their Papa and were taught many wonderful lessons from him.

He lived his life with His Savior as his guide. He was a wise businessman and a friend to so many. He spent a great portion of his life serving missionaries in 17 countries in South and Central America, as well as Africa. He gave of himself and his talents to be used as God would lead. He has remained a resident of Dothan since 1950, building a legacy to pass along to his family. He said, even of the last day of his life, that he was “a child of the King!” and now he resides with Him and his beloved Ella for all eternity. His family is honored, proud, and extremely blessed to have had him as our Patriarch.       

Funeral services will be held at 1 PM, Tuesday, March 19, 2019 from Southside Baptist Church with Dr. Jerry Grandstaff, Reverend Stacy Stafford, and Reverend Billy Rich officiating. Burial will follow in Memory Hill Cemetery with Ward Wilson Funeral Home directing.

The family will receive friends from 6 PM until 8 PM, Monday, March 18, 2019 at Ward Wilson Funeral Home. The family will be accepting flowers.

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