Born on March 14, 1961, in Baltimore, she was the daughter of Dale and Millie (Mackubin) Townsend of Linthicum.

Sarah was educated in the Anne Arundel County school system, having graduating from Andover High School in 1979. She was a 1982 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Western Maryland College with a degree in mathematics. Sarah was employed by SI International in Bethesda, where she worked as a senior principal systems engineer.

Sarah was a brilliant and loving person who enjoyed sharing her love of Jesus through teaching. She influenced many people in their faith walks. She loved her pets and enjoyed reading and riding motorcycles with her husband. She will be greatly missed.

In addition to her parents, she is survived by her loving husband of 20 years, John K. Thompson; one sister, Kori and her husband, Jeff Hoene; one brother, Scott Townsend; her husband's parents, John and Sue Thompson; one sister-in-law, Linda and her husband, Wayne Gebelein; one niece, Rachel Gebelein; three nephews, Erich and Mason Hoene and Michael Gebelein; and her beloved fellow members of the Mount Carmel and Salem United Methodist Churches.

A celebration of life memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Salem United Methodist Church, 25 S. Main St., Keedysville. The Rev. Jennifer Kokoski and the Rev. Patricia Watson will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Salem United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 25, Keedysville, MD 21756; The Wheelchair Foundation, 3820 Blackhawk Road, Danville, CA, 94506; or the National LeioMyoSarcoma Foundation, (payable to NLMSF Donations), 18623 County Road 12 S, Foley, AL 36535.

Arrangements are by Bast-Stauffer Funeral Home in Boonsboro.

Online condolences may be offered at BastStaufferFuneralHome.com.

×PaperDate 11/1/09