Margaret M. Townsend
First woman elder in Cross Creek Presbyterian Church
Margaret M. Townsend, 97, of Washington, died Sunday, November 10, 2013, in Hawthorne Woods Assisted Living, South Strabane Township.
She was born December 7, 1915, in Washington, a daughter of the late H. Wylie and Mary Baker McClenathan.
Mrs. Townsend was a graduate of Trinity High School and Penn Commercial and was employed as a legal secretary.
She was a member of Cross Creek Presbyterian Church, where she taught Sunday school and held the distinction of serving as its first woman elder.
On July 2, 1939, in Washington, she married James Donley Townsend, who died July 24, 1998.
Surviving are a son, Robert D. (Rupa) Townsend of Cincinnati, Ohio; two brothers, Fred “Sam” (Jo Ann) McClenathan of Washington and Frank (June) McClenathan of Prosperity; a sister, Mary Louise Wall of Washington; three grandchildren, James D. (Rhonda) Ragan, Joseph H. Ragan and Neil B. Townsend; a son-in-law, James Ragan; two stepgreat-granddaughters, Jessica Newman and Payton Wood; and several nieces and nephews.
Deceased are a daughter, Margaret L. Ragan; two brothers, James R. McClenathan and William E. McClenathan; and three sisters, Ellen Wilson, Sara Cale and Jean Day.
Friends will be received from 10 a.m. to noon, the hour of services, Wednesday, November 13, in Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Home, 420 Locust Avenue, Washington, with the Rev. Clarejean Haury officiating. Interment will be private. Memorial contributions may be directed to Cross Creek United Presbyterian Church, 1231 Cross Creek Road, Burgettstown, PA 15021. Condolences may be expressed and photos uploaded on www.familyremembers.com. Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Directors, Inc., Charles R. Piatt, owner/supervisor, and Lawrence K. Donovan, funeral director.