William E. Townsend, Jr.

William E. Townsend Jr., of Hull died  March 24, 2014, he was 94. 

William was born October 13, 1919 in Halifax, Nova Scotia to parents William E. and Theresa Ready Townsend, who had relocated to that city after the devastating explosion of 1917, in order to participate in the rebuilding effort. Bill graduated from Sumner High School, Holbrook, in 1938, and was married to the late Eleanor Borgeson Townsend of Stoughton.  He served in the United States Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theater, on the USS Yorktown, Saratoga and Wasp at the rank of Aviation Chief Ordinanceman.

He was the father of William E. Townsend III and his wife Geraldine Shea Townsend of Naples FL, Paul R. Townsend and his wife Francine Fazio Townsend and David E. Townsend and wife Kacie Nickerson Townsend all of Hull.  He was a very proud grandfather of eight grandchildren – Christopher, Gregory, Heather, Frank, Tracey, Kevin, John and Katie; seventeen great grandchildren and one great-great grandson.

Following his military service, Bill contributed to the construction of landmark projects throughout the United States, including the Prudential Center, the Shawmut Bank building, the Bank of Boston building, the Washington, D.C. Metro and the Fort McHenry Tunnel in Maryland.

After retirement he became a popular figure in several Hull businesses:  for years the famed “lollipop man” at Riddle’s, and later at Nantasket Hardware and Nantasket Pharmacy.  He also was a life long coach of youth baseball leagues and woman’s softball.  He will be missed by the generations of Hull residents whose lives he impacted.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Friday 5-8 PM in the Pyne Keohane Funeral Home, 21 Emerald St. (off Central St.), HINGHAM. A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the funeral home at Saturday prior to the Funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Parish in St. Ann’s Church, Hull at 12 PM. Burial in Hull Village Cemetery, Hull. 

Donations in Bill’s memory may be made to the Sunset Point Camp, Catholic Charities South, 169 Court St., Brockton, MA 02302.