Raymond F. Townsend, 69, died on Tuesday, Dec. 25.

He was born on April 13, 1943 to Dale and Doris Townsend in Las Vegas, NV. Later the family moved to Ripon, CA and then settled in Oakdale, CA in 1955. He graduated from Oakdale High School in 1961.

In 1964, Mr. Townsend went to work for Hershey Chocolate at the Oakdale Plant stacking cocoa beans. On July 3, 1965 he married the love of his life, Dorothy Bellin and together they had two children.

He continued his employment with Hershey for 37 years and in 2002, he retired as second shift Plant Manager.

He was involved with several clubs such as the Oakdale Baseball Association, Oakdale Sportsmen’s Club, The Sonora Smokepolers, Lifetime Member of the NRA, and the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association. He had a wide variety of hobbies including fishing, hunting, Jeeping, and gun building to name a few.

Survivors include his wife Dorothy; son Richard Townsend; daughter Katina Morgan (Randall); granddaughter Samantha Townsend; sister Renae Benedix (Ron); and many more loving family members.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday Jan 5, 2013 at 11 a.m. at the Oakdale Memorial Chapel with a Celebration of Life following at the Oakdale Sportsmen’s Club.

Remembrances can be donated to Community Hospice.