In Memory Of: Helen H. Towne

 

Helen Hudson Towne, a long-time resident of Walnut Grove, California, died on April 24, 2020.  A Celebration of Life Service will be held in at the Jean Harvie Community Center, 14273 River Road, Walnut Grove, California, on July 24, 2021, at 11:00 a.m.  Rev. Michael J. San Martino will be officiating.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the UC Davis Alzheimer’s Disease Center.

                                                                                       

Helen was born on December 26, 1933, in Sacramento.  She graduated from Courtland High School in 1950 and the University of California, Berkeley in 1954.  On December 18, 1955, she married Bruce Pernau Towne of Walnut Grove.  She was a past president of the Sacramento Junior League, a founder of the Walnut Grove Head Start, an elementary teacher for Walnut Grove Elementary School and an active member of the Walnut Grove Community Church, serving as a choir member, Sunday school teacher and youth group leader.  She will be remembered as a lover of God, family, friends, chocolate, fun and movies.

 

Helen is survived by her sister Merrie Baker, sister-in-law Mary Lou Hudson; her four children, Bruce Hudson Towne (Lynn), Sam E. Towne (Jeanette), Laura T. Howard (Rod) and Alice T. San Martino (Mike); her twenty grandchildren, Elizabeth Towne Morris, Paul Towne, Samuel Towne, Jessica Towne Burns, Sarah Towne Gookin, Amanda Towne, Sarah Howard Gerber, Zach Howard, Katie Howard, Caroline Howard, Rachel Howard, Simone Howard, Hudson Howard, Lydia Howard, Andrew San Martino, Juliana San Martino, Matthew San Martino, Sarah San Martino, Marguerite San Martino, Isaac San Martino; and her six great grandchildren, Molly Howard, Vivian Howard, Trinity Howard, George Towne, John Towne and Timothy Gookin.  She was preceded in death by her husband Bruce P. Towne, her parents George Hudson and Doris “Polly” Hudson and her brother James E. Hudson (Mary Lou).