Richard Edward Townsend
"Ricky"
1964 ~ 2008
California native, Richard Edward Townsend, was born January 3, 1964 to Virginia Miller and Albert Townsend in Los Angeles, CA.Richard was the second of four children. In 1982 he graduated from Verbum Dei High School in Los
Angeles where he excelled in sports, especially basketball. His proficiency in basketball earned him a full athletic scholarship to the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) where he met future wife, Deidra Conerly. Richard spent four years at UCSB where he majored in Liberal Arts and graduated in June 1986. Richard and Deidra were married July 16, 1988. To this union were born two children, Blair Anthony in 1991 and Lauren Symone in 1994. Richard was a gentle, kind and
loving father. He had no problem changing his babies diapers, washing their little hands and carefully
tucking them in to bed.
Richard has a successful career for many years. He moved up the ladder in the insurance claims industry. He worked as a Claims Examiner and eventually became a mid-level executive in the Workers's Compensation field. Richard loved people. He never met a stranger and could start a conversation with anyone he met. His door was always open as he enjoyed cooking and loved sharing his food with others. Richard established a personal relationship with his Lord and Savior in 1987, when he joined the Victory Bible Full
Gospel Church in Pasadena, CA. After moving to Utah in 1996 he
became a member of Worldwide Gospel Church under the leadership of Bishop Willie Dunn, Jr. Toward the sunset of his life, Richard found himself in a position of having to endure many trials and tribulations that never dampened his inner strength and courage. A quote by Sir Winston Churchill best sums up
Richard's approach to life. "Success is not final, failure is
not fatal: it is the courage to
continue that counts."
Richard went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, May 18, 2008. Richard is survived by his mother, Virginia L. Miller. He leaves behind his three children, Randi (20), Blair (17), and Lauren Townsend (13); two sisters, Virginia C. Miller (39), and Tara Thomas (31); his beloved aunt, Sarah Jones; and a host of
other relatives and friends including Jonesy, his dog. Richard was preceded in death by his brother, Barry Anthony Dennis. Ricky we love you, we will forever miss you--your struggle is over.
Rest in peace.
The family invites you to attend a celebration of Ricky's life. Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 12:00 p.m. Worldwide Gospel Church, 862 West 300 North, Salt Lake City, UT.