- His obituary appeared on 1 Nov 1939 in the Tribune Press in Gouverneur, St. Lawrence, New York, as follows: "H. Townsley Dies Aged 50. Heart Attack Fatal To Bank Employee Friday. A heart attack, suffered as he was on his way to work, was fatal to Harlan A. Towsley, 50, Bank of Gouverneur bookkeeper, Friday morning, October 27.
"He was walking along East Main street with Raymond Valle about 8 a.m. when he turned and slumped against the window of the J. C. Penney Co. store, a few doors from his destination. He had seemed in his usual health, according to Mr. Valle, who with Oscar Bedard and Richard Witters assisted Mr. Townsley into the store where he died before a doctor could
arrive.
"Funeral services were held in Gouverneur Presbyterian church Sunday afternoon with Rev. Joseph A. Schofield, jr., pastor, officiating. Burial was in Riverside cemetery. Bearers were George Evans, Leon Murray, Harvey Gleason, Roy Randall [bank associates of Mr. Townsley], Clayton Rush, and Harry Hodgkin.
"Survivors include his wife, the former Jane Welch of Gouverneur, whom he married September 27, 1921; his mother, Mrs. Emma Townsley; two sisters, Miss Thena Townsley and Mrs. Morris Davies, all of Gouverneur.
"When he died, Mr. Townsley was ruling elder of the Presbyterian church, having been ordained and installed as such November 6, 1938. For 17 years, until his resignation last February he was treasurer of the church, and had served as an usher, and as president of its Brotherhood for two years. He attended the annual banquet of the organization the night before he was fatally stricken.
"Born in Old DeKalb, April 7,1889, Mr. Townsley was the son of Arthur and Emma Miller Townsley. He came to Gouverneur with his mother when he was an infant, following his father's death. He was educated in Gouverneur and was graduated from the high school, after which he was employed by G. P. Tait & Son Dry Goods store. He began work for the Bank of Gouverneur about 10 years ago.
"He served overseas for a year, and was a member of James Maloy Post, No. 65, American Legion, and Gouverneur chapter 325, I. O. O. F. At the time of his death he was treasurer of school district number 1, town of Gouverneur, and had served for a time as scoutmaster of the Legion troop. He was district treasurer of the local Boy Scout council."
[http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn83031312/1939-11-01/ed-1/seq-7/]
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