Obituary of Alton V. Southwick

Alton V. Southwick, 98, of Centerville, passed away Tuesday, November 18, 2014 at the Golden Living Center in Titusville. Alton was born on August 5, 1916 in Oil Creek Twp., Crawford County, to the late Curtis and Jesse Cummings Southwick. He was married to Elizabeth Bradford of Centerville on June 17, 1944 and had celebrated 67 years of marriage prior to Elizabeth’s passing on Nov. 11, 2011. Alton was employed as a machinist for over 40 years having worked at both the former Titusville Forge and Universal Cyclops Specialty Steel Corp. in the Shear Knife Department from where he retired in 1979. He was a member of the Centerville United Methodist Church; the Centerville Volunteer Fire Department; the Titusville Lodge No. 754 F.& A.M.; the Venango Lodge of Perfection, Valley of Oil City; and of the New Castle Consistory, Scottish Rite in New Castle. He had also served on the Titusville School Board and was a member of the committee helping to establish the Oil City Vocational Technical School. He enjoyed hunting, woodworking, golfing and bowling. He was an active member of the Senior Citizen Bowling League until the age of 96. Alton is survived by a daughter, Renee E. Southwick and husband Lloyd “Butch” Whitson of Ashfield, MA; a daughter-in-law, Karlyn K. Southwick of Stafford, VA; a grandson, Kris K. Southwick and wife Alicia, and great grandchildren Clayton and Emory, all of Warrenton, VA; a grandson, Zachary C. Southwick of Bluffton, SC; a sister-in-law, Rowena Bradford of Cranberry Township; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by two sons, Curtis B. Southwick and Kris R. Southwick; two sisters, Velma Cowick and Emma Grin; and a brother, Vance Southwick. No public calling hours will be observed. A memorial service celebrating Alton’s life will be held on Friday, July 17, 2015 at 11:00 AM at Sunnyside Cemetery with Pastor Gary Kinnear officiating. Burial will be in Sunnyside Cemetery in Centerville. The family asks that memorial donations be made to the Centerville United Methodist Church 18679 Erie St. Centerville, PA 16404. The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to Bobbie Evans for her constant love and devotion to Alton, and to the staff of the Golden Living Center for their exceptional care and compassion for him.