Richard "Dick" Southard, 80, of Willowdale, a retired farmer, and avid horseman died Friday, Feb. 25, at home with his family.
Dick is survived by his wife, Lua, sons Kenneth Charles Southard, Sr. (Marie) of Centreville, Md. and Kevin Oas Southard, of Millington Md., grandsons Kenneth C. Southard, Jr. (Morganne), of Centreville, Md. and Paul D. Southard of Salisbury, Md., granddaughters Misty D. Amarena (Joe) of Glastonbury, Conn., Jacquelyn and Jennifer Southard of Millington, Md., and four great-grandchildren, Julia, Landon, and Alyvia Southard and Theodore Amarena. He is also survived by brothers Thomas Southard of Rural Retreat, Va. and Frank Southard of Elsmere, sisters Mary Burton and Marla Lewis, both of West Grove. Dick was predeceased by his mother and father, sister Lydie Laub and grandson James R. Southard.
Dick was born on Dec. 8, 1941, to Thomas Southard Sr. and Laura Hale Southard. He lived 72 years of his life within one mile of Willowdale where he grew up from the age of three. He lived and worked as the farm manager on Mr. Truman Welling's Scarlett Thicket Farm for over 55 years. The farm raised crops, cattle, and horses.
On Sept. 23, 1961, Dick married his high school sweetheart, Lua Oas, whose career was based in the equine industry. On March 15, 1962, and October 10, 1964, respectively, he welcomed his two sons into this world.
Dick was a devoted father and husband. He would light up a party with his sense of humor, enjoyed making furniture, coaching recreational youth soccer, traveling, karate, the great outdoors, and his own brand of storytelling. He was also a firefighter at the Unionville Fire Co. for many years.
He "bled" John Deere green and yellow. Most of his equipment on the farm was John Deere. Dick also had a collection of antique John Deere "putt-putts" and a huge collection of John Deere memorabilia.
A private memorial for immediate family was held on March 5 at Ware Retirement Village, Oxford. You are invited to Dick's Celebration of Life ceremony at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, at Scarlett Thicket Farm, 284 W Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348. Please wear your favorite John Deere hat and dress is casual attire.
Contributions in his memory may be made to Stroud Water Research Center, a not-for-profit organization performing freshwater research, environmental education, and watershed restoration, at 970 Spencer Road, Avondale, PA 19311 or online at https://stroudcenter.org/donate/
Arrangements are by Matthew Grieco of Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory of Kennett Square 484-734-8100. To view his online tribute, please visit www.griecofunerals.com
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