Obituary for Tom Southard Thomas (Tom) Southard Born 01-06-1932, Died 11-11-2018 Tom was born in 1932 on a small farm near Roosevelt Oklahoma. He was the second to the youngest of eight brothers (no sisters). Life was difficult during the dustbowl years on a farm in Oklahoma.
Music however was a joyful part of the family’s life. Four of the brothers formed the “Southard Brothers Quartet” and sang in music competitions throughout rural Oklahoma and Texas. They always won, and the money earned sustained the family.
With the arrival of World War Two, and the certainty that some of his brothers would be serving, the family left the farm, and relocated to Los Angeles, California. In fact, his brothers Ralph, Kiefer, and John did serve in the Navy, and returned safely. His brother Gleaves was killed during the war while working in an ammunition plant in Los Angeles, prompting the family to relocate to a more rural part of the state, Tulare California.
Tom helped his father John build houses to earn extra family income. At the same time, the “Southard Brothers Quartet” sang professionally. The quartet now consisted of the brothers Ralph, John, Herb, and Tom.
They had a weekly live television show on the local Tulare television station, along with a daily radio show. On the weekends, they sang gospel music at churches throughout California. It was at one of these church events, he met, and eventually married the love of his life Loretta.
By the early 1950’s, the brothers decided to embark on their own careers, and the quartet stopped singing professionally, however music continued to be enjoyed by them throughout their lives. Tom with his wife Loretta relocated to Redlands, California which was enjoying a building boom after the war. Using construction skills learned from his father, Tom worked for local Redlands developer L. P. Sherer on many tracts of houses.
A serious back injury left Tom unable to continue work in construction. Tom went to barber school, and ultimately opened his own barber shop in downtown Redlands, near the intersection of Orange and State Streets. As the only barber shop in downtown, Tom’s clientele included most of the downtown businessmen, and he was very active in the Redlands Downtown Business Association.
By the late 1960’s, with the changing (long) hairstyles, the barbering business took a downturn. Tom sold the barber shop and embarked on a successful career selling Audio Visual Equipment. A career which he enjoyed the remainder of his working life until retirement.
Tom is survived by his two children, Tom Jr. and Susan, as well as five grandchildren, Lisa, Michelle, Shawn, Sara and Scott. History of “The Songs” In 1962, the husband of Tom’s Sister In-Law (Loretta’s sister’s husband) died suddenly. Loretta’s sister requested the Brothers sing at the funeral.
By now, the brothers were living in different cities, and all could not attend. However, prior to the funeral, the brothers did get together and recorded two songs which were played. The brothers recording these two songs are Tom, John, Ralph and Herb.
When Ralph passed away a number of years ago, Tom took a small tape recorder to the service and played these two songs. Tom noted at the time that Ralph would find great humor knowing that he sang at his own funeral. When brother Herb passed away, his children knowing of the existence of these songs, played them at Herb’s services.
Brother John passed away earlier this year, and again his children played these two songs at John’s services. Tom was the last surviving brother. His seven other siblings have all passed.
So today we are playing, for the final time, and for the last “Southard Brother” 1. What a Friend we have in Jesus 2. Take my hand precious Lord To see more of the “Southard Brothers” search Youtube for “Southard Brothers Quartet”.
You will find a 9-minute film shot in 1963. Standing left to right are Tom, John, and Ralph. Seated is Herb.
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