Carol Cochran Townsend passed away on Nov. 8, 2022, after a courageous, three-year journey with Multiple Myeloma. She was surrounded by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends in her final days.
Carol was the daughter of Pearl and Ira Cochran, of New England (Wood County). She graduated from Parkersburg High School in 1955 and West Virginia University in 1963 with an education degree, which she used to teach children in Morgantown for many years. Carol married Ed Townsend, a professor at WVU, and together they had three children, Ken, Kathryn and Sarah, to whom Carol was devoted for the rest of her life.
In addition to her teaching career, Carol was active at the Madigan Avenue Church of Christ and she gardened, played tennis, earned her master’s degree while teaching at North Elementary School, played bridge and other card games, quilted and sewed and lived a life of service to others. The Townsend home was always open and filled with guests.
In their retirement, Carol and Ed moved to Atlanta, rode bikes, focused on their grandchildren, enjoyed the beach and traveled together throughout Europe, the Mediterranean, Canada and the United States.
Carol will be missed by her husband of 64 years, Ed Townsend; her children and children-in-law, Ken and Annabelle Townsend, Kathryn and Kyle Lobley, and Sarah and Joby Higinbotham; as well as her grandchildren Abigail, Caleb, Emory, Daniel, Ivy, Kathryn; and John; and her great-granddaughters, Eva, Fayron, Corah and Jane.
Carol lived a meaningful life full of love for her family, a deep commitment to God and her local church, and the friendship of many wonderful people. Carol’s memorial service will be held at North Atlanta Church of Christ at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 20. More information can be found here: higinbotham.lmc.gatech.edu/in-memoriam-carol-townsend/
