Le Etta McLaughlin Townsend

We regretfully announce the passing of Le Etta McLaughlin Townsend of Accokeek, MD on March 11, 2023 at the age of 80. Born in Pawnee, OK, she was the daughter of the late Orville and Gladys McLaughlin.

Le Etta graduated from Cottey College in MO, and continued her studies at the University of Oklahoma. She then moved to Washington, D.C. to pursue graduate studies in history at Johns Hopkins University. She met her late husband, David Harvey Townsend, when they got into a car accident in D.C., and he proposed a couple months later. They were married for 54 years and had two children.

Le Etta worked as a research assistant for the American Psychological Association and the Project for Scientific Information Exchange at Johns Hopkins University. She changed careers to become a U.S. Park Ranger at Piscataway Park in MD where she taught environmental education, and worked as the office manager, and then later the project manager for capital improvements at the Alice Ferguson Foundation.

Le Etta’s love of travel took her to all seven continents. As a member of Foundry United Methodist Church, she joined several mission trips in the United States and abroad. She was also a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, an organization devoted to supporting women’s education, for 58 years. 

Le Etta is survived by children, Anne Rose (Robert) of Annapolis, MD and William Townsend of Accokeek, MD.

A memorial service will be held at Foundry United Methodist Church, in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, April 23 at 1:30pm.