PINE BLUFF — James Fletcher Townsend, Jr.,

85, of Pine Bluff, Ark., died April 23, 2020, in Birmingham, Ala., surrounded by his loving family. He was born August 4, 1934, in Pine Bluff, Ark., at Davis Hospital, the son of James Fletcher Townsend and Betty McCammon Townsend.

Jim spent his early years in Wabbeseka, Ark., where he took advantage of all the joys a small town offered to a young boy. His family moved to Pine Bluff when he was in junior high school. He graduated from Pine Bluff High School in 1952. Jim attended the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering. While attending UA, he met his future wife, Jane Ivester. He married Jane on January 27, 1957, and she remained his loving wife for 63 years.

One of Jim’s deepest desires was to learn to fly. He accomplished this by entering the Air Force in 1957 where he was immediately accepted into pilot training. He was sent to training bases at McAllen and Lubbock, Texas. After completing all of his training, he was assigned to fly KC-97 refuelers in the Strategic Air Command (SAC). He was based at Homestead AFB in Florida and Otis AFB in Cape Cod, Mass. After spending seven years in the Air Force, he returned to civilian life working for Boeing Aircraft in New Orleans, La. While at Boeing he worked on the Saturn V First Stage Rocket that was responsible for lift off for the space program’s Apollo launches.

After two years with Boeing, Jim returned to Pine Bluff to accept a job with Central Transformer Company (Central Moloney Incorporated (CMI). He spent the remainder of his working career with CMI and retired in 1997.

Jim had a life-long interest in hunting and fishing, encouraged by his father in early childhood. Living in prime duck hunting country made this his favorite pastime. Although, canoeing competed with this choice when he acquired a canoe later in life. He also enjoyed woodworking, creating a number of pieces of furniture and projects for his church. Jim was a problem solver. Nothing gave him greater satisfaction than figuring out how to repair or build something.

Jim’s life was devoted to God, family, and country. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Pine Bluff from an early age. He served a term as Chairman of the Board, served on many committees, and was a member of the Pairs and Spares Sunday School Class.

He has three children, Melanie Colvin (Earl), Hayley Roberson (Wayne) and James Townsend III (Trenda) to whom he was devoted all his life as a wise and loving father. He adored his four grandchildren: Sarah Margarette Roberson, Jane Linley Roberson, Alexandra Townsend and Elijah Townsend. He is also survived by one sister, Judy Spencer. Beverly Tatman, his older sister, is deceased.

Jim had a sense of humor which sometimes took family and friends by surprise. His good friend and one-time pastor Fred Arnold still laughs about his comment, “Come back when you can’t stay so long.”

He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.