Paul Hensen Townsend, Jr

October 28, 1932 - October 31, 2021

Paul H. Townsend, Jr. was born October 28, 1932 in Detroit Michigan to Paul H. Townsend and Clarissa M. Davis Townsend. Moved to Grosse Pointe Park with parents in 1946. Resided in City of Grosse Pointe. Graduated from The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville CT, Yale University (BA), and The University of Michigan Law School (JD). Served on active duty in United States Army from 1954 to 1956, as officer in 553rd Field Artillery Battalion and later 77th Field Artillery Group at Fort Sill in Lawton Oklahoma, followed by six years in U.S. Army inactive reserve. Admitted to State Bar of Michigan in 1958. Joined Dykema, Jones, and Wheat (later Dykema, Gossett) law firm same year. Specialized in labor and employment law, representing both private and public employers. Served as firm’s Labor and Employment Law Practice Group Leader. Taught Labor Law as adjunct faculty member at Wayne State University Law School during 1960’s. Retired from Dykema firm in 1998 after almost 40 years. During active legal career also served as Board member and later President and Chairman of Hutzel (formerly Woman’s) Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Played active role in formation of Detroit Medical Center and served on its Board of Trustees. Mr. Townsend also served as a trustee of University Liggett School from 1973 to 1979. Following retirement from law practice, he served as a neutral arbitrator. Member of labor arbitration panels of American Arbitration Association and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, serving in cases in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and West Virginia. Issued Decisions and Awards in more than 50 cases. Also, served as administrative hearing officer for Civil Service Commission of City of Detroit for grievances of the City’s non-union employees. Member, Board member, Secretary, and later, President of The Huron Mountain Club in Michigan’s Marquette County. Devoted considerable time to defending the Club against potential environmental damage from proposed sulfide mining underneath the Salmon Trout River. Enjoyed hunting, fishing, hiking, canoeing, and other outdoor activities; and reading history. Predeceased by spouse Elizabeth (Betsy Wheat) Townsend, to whom he had been married for 61 years at the time of her death in 2016. Also, survived by: four children: Paul H. III (Cathy), David R. (Reggie), Elizabeth Alltop (Robert), and Sarah Reiser (Chris); nine grandchildren: Clarissa (Brent) Klomparens, Sgt. David M. Townsend (Michelle), Rebecca (Matthew Hill), and Ann (Zhu-Yi); Margaret Elizabeth (Paul ) Braestrup, and Eli Townsend; Andrew Alltop, James Alltop, and Katharine Alltop; and seven great grandchildren. Also, predeceased by sister Ann T. Wood. Memorial contributions suggested to: Huron Mountain Club Community Fund for it’s endowment fund, at Marquette Community Foundation, Marquette, Michigan. https://cfofmc.org/giving/huron-mountain-club-fund/ At Mr. Townsend’s request, there will be no memorial service.