Stuart Alan Townes was born on June 26, 1954 in Omaha, Nebraska to Clifton and Norma Jean Townes. He was the eldest of five children. Growing up in a military family provided him the opportunity to live in many places. The Air Force moved his family many times to places which include Washington, DC, Massachusetts, California, Spain, and France. Stuart graduated from high school in Utica, New York and later moved to Arkansas to attend college at Hendrix University in Conway.

He entered the Navy in 1976 and later met and married his wife Maria Marlynn Galabay in the Philippines. They were married April 5, 1981. They lived in Guam and Spain. Eventually, they ended up in Maryland. They had their first son Mario on March 13, 1985 on Andrews Air Force Base in Prince George's County Maryland. On October 23, 1985 he left the Navy with the rank of Lieutenant. He moved his family to East Camden and attended SAU Tech. He joined Calvary Baptist Church lead by Pastor Don Phillips. While there, his second son Christopher Alan Townes was born on January 15, 1988 on Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City Louisiana. After graduating from SAU Tech, he moved to Boise, Idaho in 1989 to work for Micron Technology. There, he joined Calvary Baptist Church where he served as a deacon. On September 12, 1990 his daughter Christina Marie Townes was born on Mountain Home Air Force Base in Mountain Home Idaho. While in Boise, Stuart served on the board of the Idaho Black History Museum for three years, helped with his daughter's girl scout troop, refereed soccer matches, volunteered for the Special Olympics, and donated many hours of his time to many different causes. He and his wife built their own home in 1999. In 2009, he started working as a correctional officer for the Snake River Correctional Institute in Ontario Oregon where he worked until he died.

Stuart loved the Lord, his wife, children, and grandchildren. His faith was strong. He was a child of the most high God and a good provider for his family. He was a praying man always seeking to serve God. He ministered to different people on his job at the prison in Oregon.

Stuart was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his parents Clifton and Norma Townes, wife Maria Townes, three children Mario, Christopher (Melissa), and Christina and his siblings Michael, Valencia (Jesse), Catrina, and Clifton ll (Carmen), and grandchildren Ken and Milla, as well as a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.