Ronnie Townsend

Ronnie Dean Townsend, 62, of Jackson passed away Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Feb. 16, 1956, in St. Louis, son of Kasper N. Jr. and Lois E. Barks Townsend. He and Gina Yarbro were married May 22, 2004.

Ronnie grew up in the Oak Ridge area and attended Oak Ridge High School. He was inducted into the U.S. Marine Corps on Nov. 22, 1974, and was honorably discharged Feb. 8, 1979. After his military service, Ronnie was an over-the-road truck driver, previously working for Parrish Transport in Freeburg, Illinois.

In addition to his wife of 14 years, Gina Townsend of Jackson, loving survivors include three siblings, Jeanne Townsend Hardy of Pearland, Texas, Donna and Jerry Elder of Jackson and Glenn Ellis Thompson of Oak Ridge; his mother-in-law, Mary Yarbro of Cape Girardeau; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Tom and Anita Westbrook of Cape Girardeau, Thomas Yarbro of Bismarck, Missouri, and Patricia Coleman of Cape Girardeau; aunts and uncles, Mae and Ray Cannon of Cape Girardeau, Mira Barks of Huntsville, Alabama, Kermit and Frieda Townsend of Laurel, Mississippi and Ray Lee and Shirley Barks of Fair Oaks, California; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Kasper Townsend Jr.; his mother and stepfather, Lois and Bill LaBruyere; a brother, Lonnie Townsend; and his father-in-law, Jimmy Yarbro.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Memorial service, followed by military honors, will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Don Estes officiating. Inurnment will follow at a later date at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

The family suggests contributions be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.