William Townes
William Travis Townes, 85, of Union City died Sept. 7, 2025, at Obion County Nursing and Rehab in Union City.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, at noon at First Methodist Church in Union City, with the Rev. Roger Shock officiating.
A private burial will be held at Beech Cemetery near Union City.
Visitation will be held at the church on Thursday, beginning at 10 a.m. until the hour of the service.
White-Ranson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
He was born Oct. 30, 1939, in Nashville to the late James Travis Townes and Mary Jane (Jones) Townes. He married Ann Lutts Townes on Oct. 29, 1961. She preceded him in death on Oct. 15, 2012. He graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 1961. He worked for Agrico and Phillips Petroleum Company in the fertilizer industry and was working for the Farmers Home Administration when he was transferred to Union City in 1968. He later joined Farmers Exchange Bank, and was later employed by First American Bank and First State Bank. He was a member of Union City First Methodist Church, where he served as treasurer and head usher for many years. He was a charter member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, Alpha Upsilon Chapter at the University of Tennessee at Martin and was an Assistant Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 55. His hobbies included farming and Civil War history.
He is survived by two sons, William Lutts (Martha) Townes and James David (Kristi) Townes; four grandchildren, William Cary (Nealey) Townes, Katherine Ann Townes, Jacob Michael Townes and Davie Kristin Townes; three great-grandchildren, Micah Anne Townes, Wade Cary Townes and Leighton Reese Townes, all of Union City; a sister, Mary Lynn Townes Holly (Pete) of Murfreesboro; two nieces and two nephews.
The family requests memorials be made to Union City First Methodist Church.
The Messenger 9.8.25