William R. Southard

William Ray Southard (Bill, Dad, Uncle Bill, and dare I add “Billy Ray”) passed away at the age of 81 on March 15, 2026, in Stafford, Virginia. He was unaccompanied when he took a fall in his yard. Despite quick and diligent emergency medical attention, they were unable to again start his heart. His big, beautiful heart.

Bill was born in Rock, West Virginia, on September 24, 1944, to Ethel Gladys England Southard and Clarence Lester Southard. He left high school to join the U.S. Army, earning his GED and serving from May 1962 to May 1983. He retired honorably as a Sergeant First Class after serving in Vietnam, Berlin, and Korea, and excelling as both a Communications-Electronics Operations Chief and Food Service Specialist. An army does march on its stomach after all.

He has two daughters, Rachel Wright and Deborah Southard, with the love of his life, Anita Ann Lauritsen Southard. They met while both were in the U.S. Army and married the day after Bill turned 18 on September 25, 1962, in Boulder, Colorado. Bill and Anita were also blessed with a bonus daughter, Elisabeth Flowers, who drifted into their lives in her preteen years as a friend of their daughters, but settled into their hearts. Elisabeth passed away five years ago, and his beloved Anita is under hospice care for advanced dementia. Bill is survived by two of his three siblings, his older brother Clarence “Bud” Ivan Southard and his oldest sibling, his sister Shirley Jane Barker.

Family ancestry, for both his lineage and Anita’s, was his primary hobby. Keeping up with his nieces, nephews, and cousins filled much of his time and was his greatest joy. He was so proud of each of them, whether they passed a math test or published a book. He was particularly fond of his niece, Melissa Neel, who has lovingly cared for her own older sister, Patricia Barker, until her passing, and her mother, Shirley.

He was an avid reader, loving science fiction and westerns most of all. He was unendingly kind to everyone he met. He was loved by many, many people that might not otherwise be noticed in one’s daily life. At least one, if not two or three, waitresses would give him a hug when he dined at his favorite Bob Evans. His favorite, Dora, always checked in with him and asked about Anita. He loved to make people laugh, smile, and feel good, and he believed doing so should be a continual goal for all. His life view could be distilled into a simple statement, “If you didn’t make someone laugh, or at least smile, you wasted the day.”

Bill selected cremation and then burial. A graveside service with military honors will be held at a later date. We intend to live-stream the service. Yes, he will have military honors. Details will be shared when they are available.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to either the American Heart Association (www.heart.org) or the American Diabetes Association (www. diabetes.org). Thank you so much for sharing this time of loss and pain with us.