Jean Ditch

Jeannie Townsend Ditch, 85, of Windsor, NY passed away peacefully on July 5th, 2026, at Mercy House in Endicott, NY.   Jeannie was a gifted artisan with a vibrant, outgoing personality and a great sense of humor. She made friends quickly and was grateful for all of them. She felt enriched by and, in her own words, “blessed beyond measure” by those friendships. 

Born April 7, 1941, in Harford, PA, she was the daughter of the late Merle and Vera Capron Miller. Jeannie was raised on a farm alongside her five siblings, where she enjoyed a loving and active childhood. She was a member of the last class to graduate from Harford High School.  Jeannie was a graduate of the Ridley-Lowel Business Institute and worked for Kelly Girls and several businesses in Binghamton before beginning a career as a Customer Service Representative for the Social Security Administration. She retired in 1998 after more than 20 years of service in the Binghamton, NY. and Manassas, VA. offices.  She was a very active member of the Windsor United Methodist Church, the Windsor Garden Group, Vestal and Kirkwood Seniors, and volunteered at the Windsor Library. To each group, she brought a smile, energy, creativity, and meaningful participation. She was also a longtime member and de facto social secretary for the “mermaids”, a group of dedicated fitness enthusiasts who gathered very early four mornings a week at the high school pool to swim.  She will be greatly missed. 

Jeannie is survived by her husband of 44 years, Roger Ditch of Windsor, NY. She is also survived by two sons, Gary Townsend ( Lori) of  Chapman, KS, and Michael (Kyna) Townsend of South New Berlin, NY; a stepson, David Ditch (Gayle) of Conklin, NY; twin brother Alvin (Linda) Miller of Kingsley, PA; eleven grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; and numerous in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sisters Irene Anderson, Lois Carlson, and Doris Spedding, brother, Olin "Bub" Miller, two stepdaughters, Cheryl Creekmur and Laurie DeMarco, grandson Ennis Townsend, and nephew Sidney W. Jones.  

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on July 18th, 2026, at the Windsor United Methodist Church, 56 Chapel Street, Windsor, NY, celebrated by Pastor Debra Arnold, assisted by Rev. Rachel Maerose.  A luncheon will follow the service at the church fellowship hall. Interment for immediate family will take place at the Knox Cemetery, Ouaquaga, NY at the convenience of the family.   

The family will welcome friends to call on July 18th, from 10:00 AM until the start of the funeral service.

A special thanks to Guthrie Hospice Services, especially to Amy and Lauren and the outstanding staff at Mercy House for their wonderful and compassionate care. Should friends so desire, expressions of sympathy in lieu of flowers may take the form of a donation to  Mercy House or the Ennis J. Townsend Memorial Creative Grant Fund at the Community Foundation for South Central NY, 520 Columbia Drive, Suite 100, Johnson City, NY 13790 or via website https://donorswhocare.org/townsend-memorial-creative-grant-fund  Please express condolences at www.SavageFS.com. Arrangements entrusted to SAVAGE-DeMarco Funeral Service, 338-344 Conklin Avenue, Binghamton, NY 13903.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jean Ditch, please visit our floral store.