William Ernest Towne

William Ernest Towne, age 92, of Astoria, died Saturday, April 16, 2011, in Astoria. He was born Oct. 28, 1918, in Quincy, to Ernest Albert and Mildred Elaine (Lane) Towne. In 1935, he graduated from Jewell High School. On Sept. 2, 1938, he married Marian Elizabeth Anderson. She preceded him in death Feb. 3, 2006. He enlisted into the U.S. Navy June 3, 1944, and served until October 1945. Mr. Towne became a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps, which provided him a job building roads and planting trees. He then became a police officer for the city of Astoria and worked with the city for a few years. When he returned from the service, he went to work at Astoria Marine Construction Co. He worked at Tongue Point decommissioning ships, then at U.S. Bank in Astoria as an operations officer. He moved to Brookings and worked at South Coast Lumber Co. for a few years, until his retirement in the early 1980s. He returned to Astoria and has resided here since. Family members said his hobbies included crossword puzzles and reading. He is survived by three sons and two daughters-in-law, Gary Towne of Astoria, Dennis and Penny Towne of Lake Oswego and David and Pat Towne of Gresham and Steven Towne of Kettle Falls, Wash.; and a daughter-in-law, Pam Tillson of Astoria. He was preceded in death by a son, Craig Towne, in 1978. Mr. Towne requested that there be no service. Memorial Contributions may be given to Clatsop Care & Rehabilitation Center, 646 16th St., Astoria, OR 97103. Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary in Astoria is in charge of the arrangements. An online guest book can be signed at www.caldwellsmortuary.com