Columbus, OH — John A. Townsend, 83, formerly of Washington and Meadow Lands, Pa., died Oct. 15, 2021, after suffering a fall and brain hemorrhage in Phoenix, Ariz.

He was born July 27, 1938, in Tulsa, Okla., one of three sons of Albert McMillan Townsend and Margaret Miller Townsend.

John A. Townsend, 83, died Oct. 15, 2021.

Mr. Townsend was a 1956 graduate of Marietta High School, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1960 from the College of Wooster where he was president of his senior class. He earned a Masters degree in Business from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business and started at the University of Virginia for his Juris Doctorate. However, he wanted to train horses so he transferred to the University of Pittsburgh where he graduated in 1965.

Mr. Townsend was a long-time lawyer in Washington County in the firm McIlvaine, Allison & Townsend and a former Assistant District Attorney under Harold Fergus before becoming President and General Manager of The Meadows Race Track.

He retired from The Meadows to focus on raising, breeding and racing Standardbred horses on Rising Wind Farm in Meadow Lands and Bancroft Farm in Avella. During this time, he bred or campaigned several outstanding pacers, trotters and champions including Esquire Spur, Roydon Lad, Angela Ty, Land Fire, and Stubby B.

Mr. Townsend was a voracious reader, typically consuming three or four books per week and generously sharing his notes and copies of books with friends.

He was active in supporting Meadowcroft Village which was founded by his uncles, Hall of Fame horseman Delvin G. Miller of Meadow Lands and Albert Miller of Avella.

When a resident of Washington, he could often be found at Jake’s Newsstand, picking up dinner at Pizza with a German Twist, or working out and regaling others with stories of great Americans and novels at the Cameron Wellness Center.

He was a lifelong Democrat and active in Robert Kennedy’s and Barack Obama’s campaigns for U.S. President, as well as his son Bill’s 1992 Republican campaign for U.S. Congress in Pennsylvania’s 20th District.

Mr. Townsend was a great supporter of the EB White Society of Avella. He met John Mattox who was the owner and director of the Underground Railroad Museum in Flushing, Ohio and was instrumental in writing to the President of Ohio University in order to get an Honorary Degree for Dr. John Mattox for his lifelong work in preserving the Underground Railroad in Ohio.

He was previously married to Miss America 1963, Jacquelyn Mayer Townsend. They have two children, Bill (Katrina) and Kelly Townsend Cook (Kenneth); and five grandchildren, Colton, Pierce, Daryn Rostic, Alayna Rostic, and Samuel Rostic. He is survived by a brother, Alden (Ann). A younger brother, Timothy (Janice), preceded him in death.

A memorial service is planned for spring 2022.