Daniel Varser (Vassar) Townsend Jr. townsend

Educated: Wake Forest BA, M.Ed @FSU, Worked in Balt, Phila, NYC, Boston, Denver; and now, 18 homes later in Winston-Salem suburb. Had 2 mini dachshunds doggies. Near my oldest son, Danny. Churched at Life Community in Jamestown; Follow Demon Deacons at all games, excited about '62 reunion, '66 WFU reunion. Wonderful 50th at WFU. Discovered my Townsend roots in the last 40 years,(wrote 2 books in 2008, 2011) Dad was orphaned at 12, so found out about his Robeson county ancestors in 1747, then back to Jamestown, VA. in 1621. New book 2014. Hope to hear from old friends and new ones. Worked in Personnel, Sales, Teaching during my career since High School & College. Lived in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and Denver...and all over NC...Cherryville, WS, High Point, Rocky Mt, Clinton, Wilmington, Charlotte, Whiteville...ugh. In my 18th home due to promotions and job transfers. 336 882 5677 Planet Fitness some days each week for years , Public Speaker when asked or called upon.
Approaching 79, I still go to Life Community on Wendover Ave between Hi.Point & Greensboro (9 min from home); I write a newsletter for the group of 40 in Bible Study; and I am finishing my 4th book,"Hold on Tight To Your Blessings (and Miracles). Finally married a WFU (Cumma Sum Laude) of Lewisville. She is Elizabeth (LeGrand Gregory) Wilson We are really great together, and she will be here again this weekend. She was a teacher for 40 years W of Winston-S in Lewisville. My 4 children(Danny, Jenn, Michael, and Robert) are doing well, my former wife Mary is in Wilmington a retired RN, she has Vertigo. Regarding my siblings, my Brother Wm Frank and sis Pat are both still living in Fayetteville. I suppose I will be back in time to get to the Cross Creek Cemetery as we have a family plot and headstone awaiting my body. I'm an evangelical Christian, wrapped in the love of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I've missed only 3 days in 8 years of Church. Love it, love God! Flash update. Even the old isn't too old! Beth Wilson and I were engaged to marry on Easter in 2021. We both have very nice rings. We plan a June 24 wedding date, and I'm so blessed that we are avoiding sexual activity after starting, due to Chad Greyson, Pastor of Life So. Baptist Church preached on that subject. Beth is not too happy, but willing to follow my lead. I love her a great deal. She supervises
6 grandkids! Later I found out that 4 of them will live with us, ages 6,7,8 & 13.

At 78 I have been thinking about our Class of 1962. I remember Billy Debruin, who taught me the excitement of tropical fish at 11 years of age, and he was a member of the 4th-grade quartet at Westlawn School on Fort Bragg Road. I remember Bill Vurnakes who used to hold a make-believe protective rifle, a real broom as I ran across a field to my home next door to his separated by a large field, he became vice president of our 4th-grade class. Then I recall Mary Humphries and Molly McCall the “twins” so to speak they wore the title of Miss Westlawn and they both lived on the next street away, but they were so popular, cute, and active in class and plays. They kept the same roles throughout our school history.** In the first grade I messed in my knickers (peed) and my 6th-grade sister had to come down the hall at Westlawn and take me home to change. Then I had to go back to class! Morris Thompson had a kick out of that event. Between that, my freckles, and knot knees, I was always embarrassed for two years. Thank goodness, we remember the strangest things from childhood! In the 4th grade, I was the class President, and in the 5th Grade, I was Captain of the Flag Patrol. In the 6th Grade, I was Captain of the softball team at Westlawn, many boys were growing well into manhood. We were noticing the girls, becoming athletes, and working respectfully in class. It was an era of peace and good times in Fayetteville.

My mind drifts on to Old Alexander Graham for seventh graders, and I remember Stewart Smith going to the teacher’s side, based on a boy’s bet. He expelled say “some fumes” sitting in a trash can, and left her desk! Wow, what a man, he became an instant hero with us boys. Skipper Smith was pretty much all business as he did his work thoroughly, and attended First Baptist with a large group of us boys, including Tracy Hall, the eventual “shag king” of the class. Sadly, this great neighborhood friend who worked at Ft Bragg, and attended First Baptist with our Family and his, took his own life much later.

During that year we weren’t put down much as “our” building was so separated from the 8th and 9th grade at Alexander Graham Bell Junior High.
We were all rather “heroes in our own minds” having no underlings and separation from the upper classes by 300 yards to ‘their’ building.

By the 8th grade, we boys had begun not only to notice the girls, although we didn’t know what to do with them. At least most didn’t. There was Judy Dupree, Marlene Floyd, Sandra Julian, and a whole group of new beauties developing bodies that made us young men quiver and become one-minded. The one gal that joined me WFU was Bobbi Cato, what an energy force and a great Cheerleader who always wore the biggest smile! She did at WFU too.

In football, following the Fayetteville tradition, almost every one of us was out participating. Ted Rhodes, Skip Smith, Stewart Smith, Ronnie Peoples, Neil Lindsay, Ferrell Edmondson, Larry Harris, John Price, and names I can’t capture at this moment. If they weren’t on the football field, they were into Basketball, but football was king. We had both Coaches Johnson and Underwood, two teams because we had so much interest at the Junior high. Ben Hailey was becoming a real popular man on campus, as well as a few other extraverts. He was all smiles.

When we make the long trek up to 9th grade and Fayetteville High, a few fell out of school, and we picked up a few new faces. It was a real learning experience then. We were young, developing personalities, and it was 1960. Our personalities became important and” who was dating who” was the word on the halls. Also, what teachers should be avoided at all costs. Charles Biggs was ever more present, as he had been a part of everything said so far. He had participated in Sports and Music. Doug Culbreth and Doug Byrd starred in the class and with the growing cliques and followings developing. The cheerleaders headed by Marlene Floyd were hanging out unless they were attached at the hip with a significant boy. Deep friendships that last a lifetime were formed. Joe Jenkins had several social parties that are still remembered. Tommy Iuliucci had the bowling crowd wrapped, and the girls loved his look. Bonnye Giles who hung out mostly with Danny Townsend was the cute gal that did her work in class and was popular throughout the school. Many were in smaller cliques that are not mentioned here. That doesn’t mean they weren’t important. For example, Martha Blackwood and many others like here were in different groups. Ronnie Peoples and his many friends saw him hanging out near the front door of the school. So many memories. Sandra Robinson proved herself a real athlete with every sport. She was enthusiastic, energetic, and happy. There are many tales of some who would sneak off campus to smoke, but then everyone drove to the Drive Inn for food, curb service, and kicks. Some visited the pool halls, bowling lanes, and many just went to work after school. I’d be absent-minded if I didn’t bring up Carol Bruce McFadden. She was my lifetime friend and I will always cherish her great smile, enthusiasm, and kindness. Tommy Stewart and Danny Townsend had driven 3 weeks to Acapulco during summer break and survived plus brought back souvenirs, memories, and some Spanish. Sorry, I left out many stories and folks. PS Carol Bruce married a fraternity brother of mine at Wake Forest, Bunn Harper Lee. They lived in Fayetteville for a while, then they moved his insurance business to Winston-Salem, where they remain all these years. I'll never forget my 12th grade dance at Lion's Club, Carol Bruce was there.
It was 61 years ago! Who would have believed it then…based on what we have now…so many have gone…many are still here… let's all go to the reunion! Many did. In my brother's great football career, I used to call Fayetteville, and Mom or Dad would put the phone by the radio and I could hear his game by phone. He was my hero,
and interestingly, both he, my sister before me, and me were Most Athletic Superlative in our senior classes, respectively. We were a well-to-do a blue-collar
family, but we were happy and our parents were routed in the Churched. That gave us a leg up on life and helped us in life's battles in school and marriage.

Daniel V. Townsend, Jr High Point 27265 336 882 5677 danieltownsendhighpoint@gmail.com email 1806 Treyburn Lane, High point, 27265 or at the new home of my new wife, Beth,in Arbor Run in Lewisville N.C.