Mabel Townsend Bender, post office retiree
Mabel Townsend Bender, 96, of Dagsboro, passed away at her home Saturday, April 23, 2022, with her family and friends by her side.
Mabel was born April 26, 1925, in Ocean View, to the late Joshua and Ollie (Banks) Rickards. Mabel retired after 25 years from the U.S. Postal Service, as the postmistress of the Clarksville post office. She was a lifetime member of the Millville Volunteer Fire Department’s Ladies Auxiliary, a longtime member and board member of the Indian River Senior Center in Millsboro and a member of the La Rosso Capello Red Hat Society. Mabel attended Saint George’s United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the United Methodist Women’s Group.
Mabel was preceded in death by her husbands, Phillip J. Townsend and George E. Bender. She had five children, three of which preceded her in death, Joyce Ann Townsend, Phyllis Mabel McGlaughlin and Phillip J. Townsend Jr.; and is survived by her daughter, Patricia T. Via and her husband Rick of Frankford; and her son, Perry A. Townsend Sr. of Dagsboro. She is also preceded in death by her stepson, Robert Bender; and her stepdaughters, Sally Ann Zeisloft, Frances O’Keefe and Virginia Bell. Mabel is also survived by her stepson, George E. Bender Jr. of Ocean View. Mabel’s life was also blessed by countless nieces and nephews; 38 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 28, at the Frankford Chapel of Melson Funeral Services, 43 Thatcher St., Frankford, where a viewing will begin at 1 p.m. Interment will follow at St. George’s Cemetery in Clarksville. A luncheon will follow at Saint George’s United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to the general fund of Saint George’s United Methodist Church, 34281 Omar Road, Frankford, DE 19945, or Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.
Online condolences may be sent by visiting melsonfuneralservices.com.
