Thomas J. Townsend, 74, died January 22, 2012 at his home in Wimauma, Fla. He passed away peacefully while surrounded by his loving family and friends. Mr. Townsend was born March 11, 1937 in Ft. Green, Fla. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1955. On October 29, 1960, Mr. Townsend married Martha Drury. The couple moved to Kansas for a brief time while Mr. Townsend was in school. But Mr. Townsend later received orders to report to a new Navy base in Lemoore, Calif., where they became "plank owners." They later lived in Guam. Mr. Townsend retired from the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer in 1976. He attended school for welding, which he became excellent at it. He was an avid reader and an ace when it came to crossword puzzles. He bowled, fished and loved the outdoors, especially the beach. Mr. Townsend will be remembered as a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. He will also be remembered for having a great – and dry – sense of humor. Mr. Townsend was brave all the way until the very end. He loved his family and surely could not stand the idea of leaving them – but he nonetheless always loved to spend quality time with them. Mr. Townsend is survived by his wife of 51 years, Martha, and their three daughters, Donna Townsend Haynes, Teresa Townsend Beam, and Joanna Townsend Hernandez. He is also survived by five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and many loving family members. He is survived by two siblings, Virginia Pollock and Curtis Townsend. A celebration of his life will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26, at Zipperer's Funeral Home in Ruskin. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to LifePath Hospice or your favorite charity.