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  • Welby Townsley

    Welby Townsley
February 7, 2012

Welby Ray Townsley

Claremore Progress

CLAREMORE —  

Welby Ray Townsley, a member of the “Greatest Generation” slipped away Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, in Tulsa, just 12 days shy of his 91st birthday. Born in Mounds on Feb. 15, 1921, to Roy and Ada (Smith) Townsley, the family moved to Newton, Ark., and then relocated back to the Keystone area in his teens.

There weren’t a great many jobs in 1939 for a young man so he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps Company 887 in Broken Arrow. He worked with them until joining the Navy on Aug. 5, 1942. He served on a Merchant Marine ship and traveled twice around the world. While in the Pacific his ship anchored off shore of an island. To his surprise his brother, Oren Townsley who was also in the Navy, was working on the island. It was one of only two times they saw each other during the war. He earned the rank of Seaman First Class after serving three years and three and a half months.

Later he left Tulsa and moved to California to work in the oil fields. He drilled oil and steam wells while working in California, Nevada, and Montana.

He met and married Gladys Galetti in California on July 3, 1947. His work kept them traveling for many years till they eventually settled in Seal Beach, Calif. He moved back to Tulsa in 2003 where he resided until his death.

He was a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 577 of Oklahoma, a member of the Masonic Lodge 380 out of Huntington Beach, Calif., and the Petroleum Production Pioneers of Bakersfield, Calif.

His favorite things in life was traveling, dancing to the Big Band Sound at the VFW or two-stepping to country music, and his greatest joy of all was family gatherings. Because of family ties in Claremore, he made many visits here.

Ray was proceeded in death by his parents, his wife Gladys, his sister Velma Edgmon, his brothers Oren, Bobby Gene, and Billy Dean Townsley, and one niece, Norma Schlemme.

He is survived by his sister Wilma Hendrickson of Tulsa, his nieces Doris Bailey of Lake Jackson, Texas, Barbara Townsley Summers of Claremore, Karen Hughes-Mauldin of Wagoner, Lori Hickerson of Houston, Texas, and Leisa Townsley of Boalsburg, Pa.; his nephews, Mike Hendrickson and Steve Hendrickson of Tulsa, and Mark Townsley of Owasso; his sister-in-law Rita Townsley Lack of Owasso. Also many great nieces and nephews. He had many cousins who referred to him as “Buster.” They are Opal Orender of Inola, Betty Jensen of Claremore, Vivian Carson of Elkins, Ark., Hazel Haught and Eula Travis of Huntsville, Ark. Also an aunt Pearl Townsley Fryman of Claremore. He was very much loved and will be missed dearly.

Services will be Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012, at 11 a.m. at Mowery Funeral Home in Owasso. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the American Red Cross, the VFW or the St. Simeons Foundation.

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