Donna Ruth (Childers) Cass Townsend, 87, died on July 23, 2025, and began her new life in heaven.
Donna lived a life of kindness and love, even when she encountered difficult circumstances. She was always ready to listen, ready to comfort, ready to cry, ready to laugh, ready to help, and ready to encourage. Her prayers and cares were constant for anyone she came in contact with.
Donna was born in Lampasas on April 16, 1938 to parents E.V. “Doc” Childers and Glenn Donnell Childers.
She graduated from Lampasas High School in 1956, and regularly told stories of the great times and great friends she enjoyed then.
While in high school, she and Charles Abney “Charley” Cass found love, and they were married in August 1960, and for the next 19 years had an impact on the communities where they lived, through both work and church. They lived mostly in Austin and Temple.
Donna got her first serious job in banking in Lampasas, and thereafter worked mainly in education-related fields as a secretary to principals and in personnel at Eanes ISD, Temple ISD, Waco ISD and TSTC in Waco.
In July 1981, she met Darrell Townsend who gave her a new perspective of life. He was a fun, loving and giving husband and stepdad for nearly 40 years. Shortly after they retired, they became full-time RVers and traveled all over the U.S. and to Alaska.
Donna fought some difficult health challenges but always kept her loving spirit.
She was filled with and fully demonstrated God’s love so her son knew what true unconditional love actually is. She gave this love freely to everybody.
Donna was preceded in death by her husband Darrell Townsend; her brother, Douglas D’Eldon Childers; and a stillborn son, Michael Robert Cass.
Survivors include her son Greg Cass of Austin; stepdaughter, Carrie Townsend; stepson, Bruce Townsend; five stepgrandchildren; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Her ashes, along with Darrell’s ashes, are buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lampasas. Hewett Arney Funeral Home of Temple had charge of arrangements.
