Robert Townsend

Robert Craig Townsend, 66, of Panhandle, passed away on Monday, October 21, 2024 in Panhandle.

Services are at 10:00 AM on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at the First Baptist Church in Panhandle with Pastor Josh Light, pastor at First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Panhandle Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory.

Robert was born on April 21, 1958 in Borger to Bob (BJ) Townsend and Betty Brandon Townsend. He was raised in Borger and graduated from Borger High School in 1976. In 1978, Robert went to work for the Santa Fe Railway, which later became BNSF Railway. During his time working for the railway, he was involved in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. He continued working for BNSF as a locomotive engineer until his retirement in 2020.

Robert married Sally Twitchell on February 14, 1997 in Borger. He began his passion to learn how things worked as a child by taking apart his sisters' toys and figuring out how to put them back together. As a child he rebuilt a motorcycle and as a teenager, he spent months completely rebuilding an old car. Robert was always inventing something, like the time he made a trap to just catch a snake but by the time he finished it the snake had gotten away. Robert was especially gifted at building and fixing computers. There was never a shortage of old computers from friends or coworkers for Robert to fix. He was also a talented carpenter, a skill he learned from his father, adding two bedrooms, a bathroom and a shop to his home in Borger. He was never one to leave a project anything less than perfect and took every opportunity to teach his family, friends, or himself something new. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Bobby and Betty Townsend.

He is survived by his wife, Sally Townsend of Panhandle; five children, Lacie Alexander and husband Gage of Amarillo, Wesley Townsend and wife Misty of Amarillo, Amber Langford and husband Ben of Memphis, Kiley Griffin and wife Sally of Bushland, and Sage Townsend of Phoenix, Arizona; four grandchildren, Breenan, Lilley, Myla, and Henry; two sisters, Karen Copp and husband Lloyd of Holly Lake Ranch and Kathy Lipko and husband David of San Antonio; numerous nieces, nephews, and other extended family members; and his beloved dog, Tiffany Nicole Townsend aka TNT.