Major Dudley W. Townsley, USAF (Retired), 61, a resident of Sanbornton, New Hampshire, quietly passed away February 5, 2012.
Born in Laconia, New Hampshire, Dudley attended Laconia High School. He was an accomplished athlete and long time member of the 4H. Dudley earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry at Colby College in Maine where he participated in numerous sports. In 1972 he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force through ROTC. Due to family health history he was unable to follow his dream of becoming a pilot, so he began his 20 year career in communications. While in the Air Force he attended the University of Southern Mississippi and earned his Master’s Degree in Teleprocessing Science. Some of his many awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal and National Defense Service Medal. He retired in 1992 as a Communications-Computer Systems Officer. Dudley returned to New Hampshire and settled in Sanbornton. At Lakes Region Community College he obtained a position in the math department. While in the position of Learning Resource Specialist Dudley was awarded the Governor’s Initiative Award. Before his retirement in 2003 Dudley was the Teaching and Learning Center assistant and received the NHCTC Commissioner’s Award for Service Excellence.
Dudley is survived by his son, Matthew, of Palm Harbor, Florida, and his mother, Elaine, of Laconia, New Hampshire. He is also survived by Sara, his sister and her husband John Hardy, of Hampton, Virginia, along with his nephews Robert and Brent VanAman of Hampton, Virginia. He is predeceased by his father, Fred and his sister, Barbara Thayer.
A memorial service will be held at 11am on April 20 at Saint James Episcopal Church, 876 N. Main Street, Laconia, New Hampshire, with the Reverend Tobias Nyatsambo officiating.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to The Huntington’s Disease Society of America, 505 Eighth Avenue, Suite 902, New York, New York, 10018 or by visiting www.hdsa.org.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com .