Emerson Curtis Townsend; Retired Contractor

Longtime decorator and painting contractor Emerson Curtis Townsend of Camarillo died Monday at home after a brief illness. He was 77.

Townsend was born Sept. 17, 1919, in Davenport, Iowa. His family moved to Van Nuys when he was 5, and he graduated from Van Nuys High in 1937. He attended UCLA for two years, and joined the Air Force as a flight instructor in 1941, said his wife of 54 years, Marilyn.

Over the next five years, he worked at several bases in California and Texas and eventually joined the Army and “ . . . had to go through the same training he had been teaching for . . . years,” his wife said.

On March 14, 1943, “Curt” and Marilyn were married in San Pedro.

“We met when my family moved next door to his in Van Nuys,” Marilyn said. “I was 12. We were just childhood sweethearts. And we were married when I was 19.”

Townsend left the service in 1946, and they had their first child the next year. As the couple were starting their family, Townsend was starting a career as a painting contractor.

“He worked for a lot of famous people, but he never liked to talk about them,” Marilyn said. “He did a lot of homes in Beverly Hills. When you’re good like that, word gets around. They want you bad.

“He worked out of the home. He didn’t have to advertise or anything. People were waiting in line,” she said.

Townsend retired in 1980, after having spent about 30 years in the trade. Retirement allowed him and his wife to travel, and afforded Townsend time to raise vegetables. “He raised enough stuff for the whole neighborhood,” Marilyn said.

They built a cabin in Big Bear and another home in Porterville, where they lived for eight years prior to moving to Camarillo in 1992.

Townsend is also survived by daughters Pamela Likins of Sunland and Catherine Herpich of Simi Valley; sons Steven of Camarillo and Robert of San Luis Obispo; nine grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

A memorial service will be held today at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Camarillo.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a memorial donation be made to a charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of Guardian Memorial Funeral Directors & Crematory of Ventura County, Oxnard.