Long time Yorktown, Va., personality Francis Lewis Southard Jr. (“Frank” to the many people who adored him), departed his mortal body on Thursday, October 17, 2024.
Born on Long Island, New York, to Francis and Ruth Southard, Frank spent much of his youth moving around Europe with his family, while his father was serving with the occupation forces after WWII. These experiences instilled in him a fondness for travel and history that endured throughout his life. Frank travelled often; in fact, he travelled to Italy earlier this year.
A natural born leader, Frank attended The Citadel in Charleston South Carolina. Upon graduation in 1959 he accepted a commission in the United States Marine Corps, having ranked second in his class during Officer Candidate School. He went on to serve as a Company Commander in Vietnam. Wounds sustained in combat during 1967 brought an early end to Frank’s military career, but not before he attained the rank of Major and earned the respect of his fellow Marines. Around the same time, Frank married Judy Southard (Grusauskas). They had two children, Elizabeth and David, and the family moved to the tidewater area where Frank established a successful business, Tidewater Materials Handling Co. Frank’s subtle humor, charming nature, and zest for life made him a beloved husband to Judy who preceded him in death, father to Elizabeth and David, grandfather to Dara, uncle to many nieces and nephews, brother to his sisters Susan, Anne and Janet, long term partner to Jan Christiansen, and friend to the many relatives and people who knew him. Frank was a one-in-a-million human being and an inspiration to many. He will be missed so much.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Yorktown, Virginia on Wednesday October 23rd at 1:00pm. A brief reception will be held at the church immediately following the Mass. Frank will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to one of his favorite charities, in his memory.
The Citadel Foundation,171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409, https://foundation.citadel.edu or to
Semper Fi and America’s Fund https://thefund.org/
Arrangements by Amory Funeral Home, Grafton, Va.