Joyce Townsend

Joyce Townsend 77, of Topeka, died Tuesday, October 25, 2016. She was born November 25th, 1938, in Topeka, the daughter of James A. and Lorraine B. (Reid) Atchison. Joyce grew up in the Oakland area and was a lifelong resident of Topeka. She attended State Street Elementary School, Holiday Junior High and graduated from Topeka High School. She maintained contact with close friends from school throughout her life. These friendships were renewed in retirement years, as they visited each other's homes and supported each other.

She was married to Bill Townsend in May of 1958 in the chapel at Grace Cathedral Church. As Joyce and Bill were preparing to get married, they enjoyed fun times with their nieces and nephews. Joyce and Bill raised their family attending Grace Cathedral. Her involvement in the church included helping with fundraisers in the reconstruction of the church after it was destroyed by fire in 1975. Joyce and Bill were active in the Marriage Encounter group within the church, including family activities such as camping trips.
Her kids' interests and activities were very significant to her. She was active within the Lundgren PTA where she helped with school carnivals. She also helped with chili feeds for the Boy Scouts and helped her son Bill with events in the DeMolay Masonic youth program.

Joyce was a stay at home mom until her kids began grade school, and then entered the workforce as a secretary. She worked at Topeka Savings. She once appeared in a TV commercial wearing a wedding dress which she had made, riding with her boss and waving in an old fashioned open topped car. Joyce later worked for Shawnee county personnel office, county coroner's office, and the Kansas Expo center. Through her work, she had the opportunity to meet many interesting people, and in addition to her 'normal work' use her sewing and creativity. On one such occasion she made arm bands for Garth Brooks and his band members.
Home decorating, cooking, and entertaining were some of her favorite things to do. On a few occasions she hosted the extended family for holidays. She would get excited to prepare for any gathering be it a holiday, graduation, or any significant event. She very much liked decorating for Christmas. She would frequently acquire decorations from after Christmas sales or garage sales and with these decorations create a Christmas wonderland that she liked to share with her grandkids, and kids of friends and family. She would invite them over for cookies and cocoa and give them a grand tour.

When the grandkids were young, time at Grandma's house would be spent playing hide and seek or having a tea parties. Joyce had fun playing with the kids on the floor, and was once seen ignoring her back problems, and going down a slipper slide. As the grandkids got older and her mental capabilities were diminishing, she still had fun in the occasional driving trip to area lakes or seeing the Christmas lights around Lake Shawnee.

In her retirement years Joyce very much enjoyed spending time with her kids and grandkids. She went on several trips with Bill, Tom, Charlotte, Matthew and Megan to places including the Mall of America, Branson, and small town parks around Topeka.

When Joyce needed full time care, her son Bill stayed home with her. He took care of day-to-day needs and helped keep her mind active with things ranging from watching HGTV to working on small craft activities. Throughout this time Bill served as her host when she received visitors from Home Health, family members and her friends, some of which she had known for 70 years.

Survivors include two sons, William J., of Topeka and Thomas J. and his wife Charlotte of Omaha, NE; and two grandchildren, Matthew and Megan Townsend of Omaha, NE. Joyce will be missed as a Mom, Grandma, Aunt, Sister and Friend.

Memorial services will be Friday December 9th at 1:00 p.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery & Funeral Chapel, 4700 SW 17th Topeka, Kansas.