Ebe Stephen
Townsend, Jr., 93
On February 24, 2022, Ebe Stephen Townsend, Jr. loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather passed peacefully at his home in Dover, Delaware.
Steve was born and raised in Wyoming, Delaware. He attended Caesar Rodney School through the ninth grade and completed his high school education at Manlius Prep School, Manlius, New York. In 1948 he graduated with a degree in business from Beacom College, Wilmington, Delaware and joined Townsend Brothers Chevrolet working with his father Ebe and Uncle Fred. He was drafted in 1950 and served two years as a corporal in the Army stationed in Germany during the Korean War.
In January of 1951, he secured a three-day pass to marry his beloved Rosie. They were happily married for 68 years until her death in 2019.
After his time in the service, he returned to Townsend Brothers Chevrolet. He was a Chevrolet Dealer from 1955 until 1996, Past President of the Delaware Automobile Dealers Association, the founding chairman of the Dealer Election Action Committee of Delaware and Time Magazine Quality Dealer for Delaware 1981.
Steve served 18 years on the board of directors of Kent General Hospital (now Bay Health) and was on the advisory board of Wilmington Trust Company. He was the former finance committee chairman of Wyoming United Methodist Church before becoming a member of Three Stones Church. He was also a lifelong member of the Free Masons, Union Lodge # 7 Dover, Delaware.
He and Rose Ann spent their time between Delaware and Florida where he was an avid fisherman, hunter, and storyteller. A prolific gardener, he enjoyed tending a large vegetable garden of tomatoes, zucchini, sweet potatoes, cantaloupes, and flowers to share with friends and family.
Steve is survived by his daughter, Karen and her husband William Lowe; son, Jeff and his wife Wanda Townsend; daughter, Robin and her husband Philip Farinella. He was blessed with seven grandchildren, Amy, Jeffrey, Michelle, PJ, Lauren, Lindsay, and Robert; three step grandchildren, William, David, and Chris, two great grandchildren, Beckett and Ruby and seven step great grandchildren, William, Daniel, Matthew, Emily, Christopher, Mia and Austin.
Steve was predeceased by his loving partner and wife, Rose Ann Reed; his parents, Ebe and Beatrice Townsend; and his sister, Beatrice "Bebe" Tarburton.
Funeral services will be held at Torbert Funeral Chapel South, 1145 E. Lebanon Road, (Rt 10), Dover on Saturday, March 5 at 12 Noon. Friends may call two hours prior. Interment will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Camden, Delaware.
In lieu of flowers the family is requesting contributions be made to Delaware Hospice, 911 S. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901, Bayhealth Foundation, 640 S State Street, Dover DE, Three Stones Church, 1506 E Lebanon Road, Dover, DE 19901.
Letters of condolence may be sent, and guestbook signed at www.torbertfuneral.com