GOSHEN – Former Orange County Legislator James Townsend of Circleville died Wednesday, his son Greg Townsend said. He was 93.
Townsend, a Republican, served on the county legislature for some 15 years and served as chairman for many of those.
Louis Heimbach was county executive at the same time as Townsend was chairman.
“He was an outstanding public servant and a gentleman, just a good person who did so much for his family, the county and the constituents that he served,” Heimbach said.
He was one of the founders of Orange County Agents insurance company in Middletown. The business was later sold to Marshall and Sterling Insurance headquartered in Poughkeepsie.
