Una Belle Townsend

Una Belle Townsend of Yukon, Oklahoma passed away on Sunday, September 20, 2026 in Bethany, Oklahoma. She was born August 29, 1947 to George and Ruby Stuebben in Marshall, Texas. She graduated from Marshall High School in 1965 before attending college. Una Belle earned a Bachelor’s Degree from East Texas Baptist College, a Master’s Degree from Stephen F. Austin State University, and Library Media Certification from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

She started teaching grade school in her hometown of Marshall, Texas. Una Belle met Virgil Townsend and they were married on July 28, 1973 before moving to McAlester, Oklahoma where she continued her teaching career. They moved to Yukon in January 1975. Una Belle then took several years off to raise her two sons before returning to the career she loved in 1989. She spent the remainder of her teaching career at Riverside Elementary School, near El Reno, Oklahoma.

During her tenure at Riverside, Una Belle enjoyed writing stories. She ultimately had her first book published shortly before retiring and became an award-winning author. Una Belle went on to have fourteen books published. She enjoyed writing stories about Oklahoma and animals, often combining the two when she wrote. She enjoyed photography, crafts, and writing haiku.

Una Belle received an Oklahoma Center for the Book Award and an IRA/ Children’s Choice Award for her book, Grady’s in the Silo. She also received an Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. Best Juvenile Book Award, and a Creative Woman of Achievement in Poetry Award from Delta Kappa Gamma.

Una Belle enjoyed working with Oklahoma’s Ag in the Classroom program and was named the first Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year. She enjoyed photography, crafts, and reading.

She is survived by her husband, Virgil, their son Chris and wife Kelly, and other son Brian, sister Ruth Fugler and her husband Paul, sister Beth Pate and several nieces and nephews.

Viewing will be held from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Monday, September 28, 2026 at the funeral home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 29 at St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church, Yukon, Oklahoma, with interment at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 30 at Corinne Cemetery, Corinne, Oklahoma.