Phillip Lance Townsend

Phillip Lance Townsend (Felipe)

Phil loved nature and took pride in living a simple life without waste. He enjoyed cross country skiing, walks in the woods, and kayaking with his friends and family. In his older years he loved feeding and watching birds. He had a warm and strong community of like-minded neighbors who became life-long friends

Phil grew up on a farm in Woodland, MI. As an adult he worked as a carpenter for many years and later returned to organic farming and beekeeping. He valued hard work and self-sufficiency. 

Phil kept beautiful and bountiful gardens. He loved his East Jordan, MI Homestead where he raised his children and built his life

Phil was unique and happy to tread his own path and embrace alternative viewpoints. He had many great adventures and travels in his lifetime including spending a handful of years in Puerto Rico as a child and traveling extensively in South America and Russia. Phil enjoyed spending time in Costa Rica where he traveled for many years after retiring from farming. Studying, growing, and building with bamboo was one of his passions. He was smart, multilingual, and was a voracious reader. 

Phil was preceded in death by the mother of his children Elizabeth “Ace” Townsend, his parents Mildred and Ralph Townsend, and his niece Trilce Townsend.  He is survived by his children Celeste Townsend, Solomon Townsend (Rachel Warnos) and grandchildren, Velvet Rose, Joelyssa Hayden, and Clayton Townsend, siblings Karen Mae, Rod (Carolyn) Townsend, Melvin Townsend, and nephew Sunshine Townsend. He also left behind many close friends and neighbors that were like family.

The family will have a celebration of life gathering at a later date.

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