Obituary of Robert R. Southard

Robert “Bob” Richard Southard, of Holden, born on November 20, 1944 in Ellsworth, ME, passed March 31, 2026 in Bangor.  He grew up in Bangor and attended Bangor High School. He was predeceased by his mother, Virginia “Betty” Southard, and was her only child and he was also predeceased by his two sons, Wayne Allen Southard and Robert “Robbie” Richard Southard, Jr.

After high school, Bob went on to serve in the United States Navy in Vietnam. He was proud of his service as a fighting Sea Bee, and has a Vietnam Service Ribbon sticker on his truck to this day. He answered the call to serve again in the early 90’s with the 112th Army Medical Unit, serving as a Crew Chief on the Model H Bell helicopter. He served his tour in Germany during Desert Storm. His first career at home was with the Bangor Fire Department where he worked as a firefighter for 20 years. After retiring from the fire department, he started his second career with the Maine Forest Service where he was also a Crew Chief on the forestry helicopters. He was extremely proud of his only living son, Michael Earl Southard, of Hampden. During his retired years he spent his time going to work for Michael as a contractor’s helper. Bob would always say he was “on call” for Michael whenever he needed help. Bob enjoyed their time immensely on job sites together where they were quite the dynamic duo. Customers loved him. When he wasn’t working with Michael, he spent a great deal of his time with his girlfriend Lynne Ryan, of Milo for more than a decade. The entire family was blessed he had her in his life. The family will always be thankful for the comfort and joy she brought him over the years, and especially in the end when she and Michael took turns by his bedside. Things Bob loved most were canoeing, music (and was quite the singer), going fiddle heading, working in his wood shop on projects, going for his daily walks outside, knitting mittens for all, and making delicious loaves of bread. He was an avid reader and loved sitting in his chair with his kindle or listening to good tunes. Bob loved helping neighbors and fixing things that seemed impossible to fix, having ingenuity will never be matched. He was extremely loved and will be greatly missed.

A graveside service with military honors will be held 4:30 PM Friday, April 10, 2026 at Oak Grove Cemetery, Finson Road Bangor. For those who wish, memorial gifts may be made to the Bangor Humane Society, 693 Mt. Hope Ave., Bangor 04401 or at bangorhumane.org. Messages and memories of Bob may be shared with his son on the tribute wall of kileyandfoley.com.