Born in Chicago IL., his family traveled a lot throughout the country and settled in Cocoa, Florida.  He attended Cocoa Beach High School, played and lettered in football.  After he graduated from High School, he completed some college courses before pursuing a career in the jewelry business as a salesman. He started with Kay's Jeweler for 4 years in McKeesport, PA.  Then he picked up manager at Gordon's Jewelers in Galveston, TX for 2 years.  It was there that he met his wife Irene and married her on October 22, 1966.  He moved on to Zales Jewelry stores in Jackson, Mississippi and then Montgomery, Alabama.  He rose to District manager and managed 7 stores for 36 years.  He eventually left Zales to work with family and friends at various locations throughout the country before moving to Tallahassee, FL in 1992. Bob and Irene worked for various Jewelry stores and by the year 2000, he retired.  In August of 2021, Bob and Irene moved to live with their son Robert Raymond Townsend II and daughter in law Danielle Leilani Townsend in Temecula, CA.  He is survived by his wife Irene Elizabeth Brock Townsend, daughter Vicki Townsend Carr McFadden (Shawn) and son Robert Raymond Townsend II (Danielle).  He had 11 grandchildren (Andrew Carr, Adam Carr, Abigail Carr Landress (Shannon), Synova Patterson Vitale (Michael), Allison Carr, Ashley Carr Tinsley (Vonnie), Robert Townsend III, Quinton Patterson, Joseph Townsend, Charlie Carr, and Toby McFadden), and 3 great-grandchildren (Sabrina Vitale, Austin Landress, and Irene L. Tinsley), with 3 more on the way, multiple nieces and nephews and shared a brotherly relationship with his brothers-in-law Cleve Snodgrass and Robert Brock and sister-in-law Pat Townsend.

He will be missed by many.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to England Family Mortuary, Inc.