Robert Towns

Robert Leslie Towns was born to the late Herbert A. Towns, Sr. and Juanita Towns on March 30, 1954 in Manhattan, New York. Robert was one of six children with three older brothers and two younger sisters. He moved from Manhattan to the Bronx after three months and then from the Bronx to Queens in 1967.

Robert graduated from Martin Van Buren High School in 1972. He proudly served in the Navy for 10 years reaching the rank and title of Damage Control Petty Officer First Class Assigned to Staff Civil Engineering. He was assigned to the USS Shreveport and was deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Storm, Desert Shield. After his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1997, he worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C. as a police officer and then a Security Specialist until his retirement in December of 2020. Robert was awarded numerous medals during his time in the Navy. Among them were  the National Defense Service Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal with Gold star and others.

In June 1980, Robert married Anna Crawford. From this union, there was one child, Sabrina Michele.

Robert valued family and friends and he enjoyed spending time with them. He especially loved getting into wrestling matches with his grandsons and always letting them win. In his downtime he enjoyed listening to music, dancing, reading, building model air planes and ships, doing puzzles and watching movies.

Sadly, Robert unexpectedly departed this life on March 27, 2020. He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Marilyn A, Towns-Jones. He leaves behind his daughter, Sabrina Hernandez, son-in-law Jose Hernandez; grandsons, Gabriel Hernandez and Zachary Hernandez; brothers, Herbert Towns, Jr., Lawrence Jackson, Leonard Jackson; sister, Elaine Robinson; and a host of nieces, nephews relatives and friends.

His light shines upon us and will forever be in our hearts.