Betty Kate Townsend

Elizabeth “Betty Kate”, as the family called her, Townsend, age 99, of Springfield, passed away Friday, February 23, 2018 at NHC Healthcare. Funeral services will be held Sunday, February 25, 2018 at 2:30pm in the chapel of the Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Springfield with Reverend Clay Burchett officiating. Burial will follow in the Elmwood Cemetery with Jarrod Holman, Justin Holman, Corey Richardson, Mike Sprenger and Bob Sneed serving as pallbearers. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Sunday from 1pm until the hour of service at 2:30pm. Mrs. Townsend was born August 31, 1918 in Springfield to the late William and Elizabeth Woodard Miles. She was an English Professor at Union University and was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Barbourville, KY. They both were employed by Union College in Barbourville, Ky. He was the vice president of Development of the college and she was an English professor until she retired. They spent most of their lives at Union College which is called the first College in the Mountains of Kentucky. They have an annex named after them on campus called the Milton & Betty Townsend Annex.Betty received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Western State Univ. in Bowling Green, Ky. She taught at Springfield High School, Coopertown School in Robertson County, Bowling Green High School, Western State University and at Union College in Barbourville, Ky. Her family on her mother's and father's side were of early pioneer families that came to Tn in the late 1700's and many family still live in Robertson County. Teaching was in her blood. Her grandmother taught Sunday School. Her mother graduated from Peabody College in the late 1800's and taught school in Robertson County. Her niece, Kathy Jones Sneed is also a teacher. Even though she had no children, her students fondly remember her style of teaching English some are teachers today because of her. Betty was an accomplished pianist and played for her church as well as the college vocal groups. Her students remembered her as being very strict on the usage of the English language and a disciplined teacher of the usage of English words. In addition to her parents Mrs. Townsend is preceded in death by her husband, Milton Houck Townsend and her brothers, William Miles and John Miles. She is survived by her sister, Ruth Miles Jones of Springfield; nieces, Kathy (Bob) Jones Sneed of Cedar Hill, Evelyn Duval of Chattanooga and Nancy (Mike) Sprenger of Crossville; and nephews, William (Caffie) Jones of Springfield and Richard (Jana) Jones of Goodlettsville. In lieu of flowers, family members and friends are asked to make contributions to the Betty and Milton Townsend Endowed Scholarship at Union College for a student majoring in English, in Barbourville, Ky. Also donations to our public library in Springfield, The Stokes Brown Public Library. Any donations may be sent in c/o Austin & Bell. The family would especially want to thank all the people at NHC Health Care and Nursing Home for their wonderful attention and loving care of Betty Kate. She loved all who tended to her needs. Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Springfield is in charge of these arrangements. AUSTIN & BELL FUNERAL HOME- 509 WALNUT STREET, SPRINGFIELD, TN (615) 384-1000

Betty Kate Townsend

August 31, 1918 - February 23, 2018