Obituary:

LYDIA B. SOUTHARD, RETIRED SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
The Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY)
August 3, 2001

Lydia B.Southard, 97, retired principal of Ransomville School, died Wednesday (Aug. 1, 2001) in the Odd Fellow & Rebekah Health Care Facility.

The former Lydia Berlin was born in Wilson and attended a one- room school there. She was a graduate of Wilson Union School and attended Buffalo Normal School, where she earned her teaching credentials.

She married Donald G. Southard in 1927, and the couple made their home for 50 years in the house that her father built on South Lake Street in Wilson.

Mrs. Southard taught eighth grade in Wilson and, later on, social studies and physical education during World War II.

She continued to attend college and earned her master's degree in education during the 1950s.

Mrs. Southard and her husband traveled extensively and spent the winters in Palm Springs, Calif., after their retirements.

Her husband died in 1980. In 1982, she moved to Lockport. She had been living in the health care facility since 1991.

Mrs. Southard was an educator in the Wilson Central School District for 43 years, retiring in 1970 as principal of Ransomville School. She served as principal there for 20 years, and also served as director of the Wilson Junior High School for a portion of that time.

She was an accomplished pianist and organist. She was a musician of the Wilson Chapter of the Eastern Star for some years.

In addition, Mrs. Southard was a member of the state Retired Teachers Association; St. John's Episcopal Church, Wilson; and a past matron of the Wilson Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star.

Survivors include a son, Richard C. of Lockport; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 15 in St. John's Episcopal Church, 431 Lake St., Wilson. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Wilson.