Judith Joy (Townsend) O'Brien

Judith Joy O’Brien – 80, Wauconda, Illinois, passed away on September 28, 2020.  She was born in Lincoln, Nebraska September 8, 1940 to Reverend Robert and Helen (Kounovsky) Townsend.  As a child, her father served Methodist student pastorates in Nebraska, Colorado and Illinois while attending seminary.  Following his graduation, the family moved back to Nebraska where her father served Methodist churches at Chadron and Sidney.

Judith graduated from Sidney High School as Salutatorian in 1958, Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1963 and a Masters in Religion from Garrett School of Theology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois in 1966.  Following a long-standing yen to be a “California Girl”, she moved there and was proud to be a legal secretary at the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in Beverly Hills.

When she met William James O’Brien, it was love at first sight for her.  It took a little longer for him to be convinced!  They were married October 24, 1968 and welcomed daughter Clare Elizabeth three years later.  They lived many happy years primarily on the Palos Verdes Peninsula of California.

She loved family road trips to learn regional history and always seeking out surprise places to eat at the end of the day, even in the smallest towns (“Are you sure you don’t want your red wine chilled?”)!  She enjoyed summer vacations at La Costa and the Rocky Mountains, being the docent trainer at The Banning Residence Museum, English mysteries, brunch at the Turf Club, Clare’s years at Cottey College & Saint Mary’s College, a fun 3-day win on the $25,000 Pyramid game show, writing letters to friends and family (never e-mails), the joy she received from her dearly loved pets Linus, Frisky, Pepper and Dolly Pearl, gardening in ever-summer Palos Verdes, her Bohemian heritage, and researching family history with dear cousin Kristie Kemnitz.

Judith was a 61 year member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood and served numerous terms as President of her local chapters.

She is predeceased by her parents and in-laws Willie and Tina O’Brien and best brothers-in-law James Slaughter and John Nicholson. Survived by her beloved Bill, cherished daughter Clare Barton and son-in-law Ken, precious granddaughters Elizabeth and Charlotte, dearest sister Rosemary Nicholson, brother Lewis Townsend, and nieces and nephew Laura, Nancy, Jean and Tim.

According to her wishes, there is no formal service. Her urn will be placed at Memorial Gardens in Estes Park, Colorado in sight of her treasured Rocky Mountains.

If one is so kind as to give a memorial gift, Judith supported the maintenance of the P.E.O.  Memory Room at Iowa Wesleyan, site of the founding of P.E.O..

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