Rachael Townsend

September 19, 1951 - May 18, 2018

Viewing
Friday, May 25, 2018
02:00 PM-08:00 PM

Interment
Saturday, May 26, 2018

Celebration of Life
Saturday, May 26, 2018
11:00 AM

Rachael Townsend

September 19, 1951 - May 18, 2018

Rachael Townsend was born September 19, 1951, to Jimmie Glenn and Dorothy Mae Townsend. She is the baby of four children and enjoyed that status. Rachael was preceded in death by her mother, father and infant sister, Marie.

Raised in Austin, Texas, Rachael graduated from Johnston High School. She worked for the University of Texas as one of the first African American women Commissioned Police Officers in the state of Texas. After working for a period of time in law enforcement, she went back to school to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Huston-Tillotson College. She later went on to receive a Master’s degree.

Initially after college, Rachael worked as a chemist for The Goodyear Corporation. Her area of work focused on vulcanization: the chemical process for converting natural rubber into a more durable material. After moving to IBM, Rachael designed a machine that determined the chemical makeup of any substance inserted into the machine. This afforded her a number of opportunities to travel to different countries. She traveled to Japan to supervise the manufacturing of this machine and later to Europe demonstrating the operation of the machine. Rachael ended her career at The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality where she supervised the division of air quality. To fulfill her professional duties, she traveled throughout Texas supervising the sampling of air quality in Texas. Working and coordinating closely with the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, Rachael worked to insure that state air quality met federal standards. She retired in 2011.

While Rachael’s career was important to her, what was most important was her love for the Lord. Rachael met the Lord, was baptized and began her walk with the Lord at an early age. However, it was not until she met the church in 1974 that she realized if you love the Lord you must also love His Body. One of the ways Rachael expressed her love for the Body was by her service to the Lord. Through the years, she served with children's work, young people, and the service office. Even when she was too ill to attend the meetings, Rachael designed and formatted the weekly agenda for the church in Round Rock.

During the time of her illness, Rachael never lost the joy and trust in the Lord. In fact, it was through this illness, Rachael said, “The Lord is taking the time to grant me the many experiences I need to gain Him as life.” She was always grateful to Him: taking her potion from His hand with thanksgiving.

Rachael is survived by two siblings: Larry Townsend of San Jose, California, and Mary Garrion and husband, Freeman Garrion, of Kyle, Texas; two uncles: Sherman White Jr. and wife, Sylvia, Wilson White Sr., all of Austin, Texas. Rachael also has five nephews, one niece, five great-nephews, seven great-nieces and many other relatives and friends.

https://www.fuller-sheffieldfuneral.com/obituary/5041084