TALLULAH — Elra H. Townsend died Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011, at River Region Medical Center. He was 76.

Mr. Townsend was born in Forrest, La., and had lived in Tallulah for more than 46 years. He was a retired welder for LeTourneau Technology and was a member of Parkview Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Virginia Ann Townsend of Tallulah; two sons, Howard L. Townsend of Monroe, La., and Ronald W. Townsend of Houston; two brothers, Kenneth Townsend of Crossett, Ark., and Milton Townsend of Start, La.; a sister, Dorothy Jones of Arcadia, La.; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 1 this afternoon at Parkview Baptist Church with the Rev. Clifton Wheat officiating. Burial will follow in Loch Arbor Cemetery in Swartz, La. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. at the church.

Pallbearers will be James Still, Douglas Riels, David Herman, Jimmy Lopez and Gene Cox.

Honorary pallbearers will be Charles Weeks, Glen Schultz, Abel Rodriguez and the Rev. Sammy Tamburo.