Laverne Whitsel Townsend was born in Arcadia Florida to her parents Lloyd Dillon Whitsel and Elizabeth Dulcena Pritchett on October 4, 1925. Laverne passed away on May 1, 2025 with Home Hospice care in Oldsmar, FL after a short illness. Laverne was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Marion H. Townsend (married 70+ years), her sons Winston Gregory Townsend and Matthew Earl Townsend, Sr. Laverne is survived by her sons Mark A Townsend of Oldsmar FL and Philip H Townsend (Rain) of Tampa, FL with 3 grandchildren and 1 great grandson. Laverne is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Arcadia.

Laverne attended Memorial Grammar School in Arcadia and graduated from DeSoto County High School in 1943. After graduation Laverne worked for the US WPA as an auditor covering DeSoto and Hardee Counties Florida until she accepted a position with G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital in the Administrative Services Department. Laverne and Marion H Townsend were married on June 8, 1952 at the Trinity United Methodist Church Arcadia. Work opportunity presented and Laverne accepted a new position with the Desoto County Tax Collector's office where she remained until she stepped away from the work world to be a 100% Mom to her three young sons. When the boys were reaching their teenage years Laverne returned to work at the DeSoto County Commissioner's Office where she achieved career advancement to the role of managing the HR & Payroll Teams for the County until her retirement.

Laverne and husband Marion had collected antiques and collectables locally and on their various vacations across the USA starting right after their marriage in 1952. Wanting to turn their collecting hobby into a retirement endeavor they bought the building downtown Arcadia at 3, 5 & 7 East Oak Street and opened Townsend Antiques and leased the remaining storefront to the Allstate Insurance Agent, Richard Ames. Townsend Antiques was the first Antique shop in downtown Arcadia. As other Antique shops followed on Oak Street over the years, Laverne and Marion often served as mentors to the new shop's proprietors as they built their new businesses. The Townsend Building is now the home of Three Trees Brewing Company and The Valley Florist.

In recent years Laverne has divided time between her home on Lake Zappa in Deep Creek/Punta Gorda and with her sons in the Tampa Bay area.

Visitation will be held on Monday May 12, 2025 at 10am to 11am at Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Home located at 50 North Hillsborough Ave Arcadia followed by a graveside service at Oak Ridge Cemetery Arcadia at 11:30am. Pastor Louie Mabrey will be officiating the graveside service.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Arcadia Florida [20 North Orange Ave, Arcadia Fla 34266] or to Moffitt Cancer Center Cancer Treatment & Research | Moffitt website.

Online condolences may be made at: www.pongerkaysgrady.com

Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Homes & Cremation Services has been entrusted with the arrangements.