Gene Ronald Southwick |
| Posted 2021-05-29 by mhenderson |
| Published in The Arizona Republic from May 28 to May 29, 2021 - Phoenix, Arizona - Gene Ronald Southwick, husband, father, grandfather geologist, fisherman, canasta player and Cardinals and Diamondbacks fan was born September 23, 1926 in Enid, Oklahoma. Gene passed away on May 15, 2021 in his home in Gilbert, AZ. He was educated in the Garber, OK school system and, after graduating, Gene joined the US Navy Air Corps where he trained for an expected invasion of Japan. However, the war ended before that became necessary and Gene was discharged in 1946. While enrolled in Texas Tech University, Gene met and married the love of his life, Wilma Tubbs and built a life and a family with her. He earned a degree in Petroleum Geology in 1950 and had a life-long career in oil exploration taking the family to Louisiana, Texas, Wyoming and Oklahoma. Gene left the oil business in 1966 for a brief time to take up farming in Missouri, but the oil embargo of 1973 enticed him back into the oil industry where he worked for the remainder of his career. After retirement, Gene and Wilma bought a farm west of Guthrie, Oklahoma where they developed oil and gas leases. They also sold some of the land to families wanting to build homes. But, most importantly to them, they donated some of the land to their church which had been leasing a building for years. Our Savior Lutheran Church now has a permanent location in Guthrie thanks to the generosity of Gene and Wilma Southwick. Their marriage lasted until March 20, 2019 with Wilma's death at age 90. They enjoyed "70 years, 6 months and 9 days of marital happiness" as Gene often recited when speaking of Wilma. While her loss left a great hole in his heart, Gene carried on offering love and guidance to his children and grandchildren for another two years. Gene is survived by his son Jeff (Julia) of Oklahoma, daughter Ellen Taylor (Jim) of Arkansas, daughter Rebecca Rodgers (Jason) of Arizona, and grandsons Warren and Garrett Taylor and Griffin and Brad Peterson. He is predeceased by his wife and a daughter, Claudia Southwick. While his family mourns his loss, they take comfort in the knowledge that he is with his beloved wife and God. Interment will take place at National Memorial Cemetery (Veterans Memorial) in Phoenix, AZ on June 1 at 9:30 am. This is followed by a memorial service at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Tempe, AZ at 11:30 am. See Also: Find A Grave |
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