Bob Townsell

Bob Townsell, aged 88, of Conway, Arkansas passed away on Saturday, September 20, in Conway. He was born on August 10, 1937 in his family’s home in Casa, Perry County, Arkansas as the second son to James Lloyd “Tood” Townsell and Cloma Bessie Avery Townsell.

Bob grew up into Casa, graduating from high school there in 1955. He played local baseball, once trying out for a Yankees scout, hunted the hills and hollers of Perry County, fished and swam in the pools of local creeks, bank walking occasionally as the Rock Island train came through. He was a three year basketball lettermen for Casa High School, proudly fouling out 27 of 33 games his junior year, at least according to his story. He spent two years at Arkansas Tech College before ending his education to join the Great Southern Migration, finding construction work in a foreign land - as Chicago, probably seemed.

Bob married Rebecca Kay “Becky” Robinson on November 26, 1960 in Ola, Yell County, Arkansas. After a short stint living in Conway with him working on the Titan missile base construction, the newlywed couple moved to Chicago where Bob continued pursuing a career path in construction. Two children arrived, Tab in 1961 and Todd in 1964, though both were deliberately born back in Arkansas.

In the fall of 1969, a little before the Sunbelt reached Arkansas, Bob moved his young family back to Conway, where his in-laws then lived, to start a construction subcontracting firm, Townsell-Hill Construction, specializing in concrete forming. Though the early years in business were difficult in a hardscrabble environment, success beyond his wildest dreams eventually came to Arkansas with air-conditioning induced economic development. His early capital partner, Lyle Hill, a relative of his wife, once said it was his best investment ever.

Bob was proud of the many buildings in Little Rock’s skyline and across many cities, and institutions and campuses that he helped construct, including the Excelsior and Camelot Inn Hotels in Little Rock, many new buildings and expansions on Big Baptist, UAMS, St. Vincent’s, and Children’s Hospitals, as well as academic buildings on most campus across the state.

In his personal life, Bob lived large. If a life can have a sound track, his had one, and you could dance the Push to it. You didn’t really know Bob unless you knew he loved music, and he loved it to the very end. If you were lucky, he would tape his favorite songs on a cassette so you too could have his soundtrack.

He joined the Conway Country Club for the gin rummy game and played golf until his sons could beat him, though he did join them to shoot a 59 in a memorable three-man scramble. Bob played tennis in a league, the ponies according to his famous system, poker with his Catholics friends, and craps with any crew who would travel to Tunica with him. And he always listened for the music in world. He loved Mike’s Place and Bob’s Grill because his friends were there and he because he could get vegetables, though he was happy with a baloney sandwich. Bob was generous to many, many people, family and friends, and including those who never knew it was him. He was most generous to Tick & Chigger, whom he stilled loved as sons.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by Becky, his wife of 64 years; his sons Tab (Mary Jo) and Todd (Annah); grandchildren Chance Townsell, Colton Townsell, Avery Townsell, and Riley Townsell; his siblings James Townsell, Louann Rudkin (Bill), Jackie Townsell (Lila), and Louise Turnage (Buzz); his brother-in law Thomas “Robbie” Robinson (Kerri); bonus grandchildren Christopher Heye (Taylor), Thomas Heye, Ian Heye, and Nico Heye; and numerous nephews, nieces, and other relatives, far flung, but loved.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Smith Funeral Home at 1751 Dave Ward Drive in Conway on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 12:00p (noon), with a brief visitation at 10:30a prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family, in honor of their patriarch’s generosity, request all to make a donation to a child, a person, a family, or a group in need. Let your conscience be your guide.