Barbara passed away at her home in Santa Monica, Calif., on Friday, April 27, 2012. She will be remembered by her husband, Brook Townsend III; her four children: Kristi Sharpe Lynch, Steve Sharpe, Blair Townsend Longacre and Brooks Townsend IV; her grandchildren, Kelly Lynch Moreland, Courtney Lynch Pinckert, Taylor Sharpe, Isabella Townsend, Cole Townsend and Tyber Longacre; and her great-grandchildren, Katelyn, Thomas and Elizabeth Moreland and Connor and Payton Pinckert.
Barbara, the daughter of Gladys and William Parker Lyon, was born on Dec. 25, 1924, and grew up in Pasadena. She attended the University of California at Los Angeles and pledged Kappa Alpha Theta.
She could be found at the stables throughout her life with her horses. Instead of joining the Olympic equestrian team set to conquer very high jumps, Barbara chose to marry Kenneth Bell Sharpe, to whom she was married for 13 years and with whom she had two children.
Her second marriage was to Brook Townsend III, with whom she had two more children. Her life, which she lived to the very fullest, was filled with children, tennis, horses and skiing.
Later in life she found herself ensconced in art classes, traveling around the world to find places to paint with friends. One of her favorite places to be was Sun Valley, where she and Brook had a vacation home.
When she was in California, she could be found walking the bluffs of Santa Monica, weights in hand. And every restaurateur from West LA to Pasadena to Sun Valley, Idaho, will miss her enjoying dinners always ending with vanilla ice cream.
All the thanks in the world go to Blanca Carbado, her caregiver, who was by her side for the past four years and Able Alvarez, who has lived with the Townsend family for the past 15 years.
Memorial donations can be made to S.E.T.C.H, which provides equine-facilitated therapy for challenged adults and children. Contact S.E.T.C.H. at (208) 578-9111 or info@sagebrusharena.com.
A private service will be held at Mountain View Mortuary, in Altadena, Friday, May 11, 2012.
