Robert E. Southworth

Robert E. Southworth, 90, of Mechanicsburg and a former resident of Allendale passed away Thursday, August 27, 2015, in Holy Spirit Hospital.

Robert was born in Dundee, Michigan, to the late Elbert and Amy (Rifenbergh) Southworth. He received a commission as an officer in the U.S. Navy in 1945 and served in the Pacific during World War II. He was an Ensign on the battleship U.S.S. South Dakota in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945 during the formal surrender of the Japanese forces. After the war, he served as an officer on various ships, including the U.S.S. Salem, the flagship of the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, and taught Surface Warfare.

After retiring as a Lieutenant in 1958, Robert received a Masters Degree in City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania and worked as a city planner for various states and municipalities, including St. Paul, Minnesota, Allegheny County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. His last position was Chief of the Current Planning Division of the State Planning Board

He is survived by his wife of more than 52 years, Elizabeth Keller Southworth; two sons, Peter and wife Anne Shin of Latrobe, California, and James and wife Karen Milbourne of Washington, DC; and five grandchildren, Maxwell, Nathan, Benjamin, Margaret Sue and Mary Elizabeth.

A memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions in Robert’s name be made to the Bethany Village Care Assurance Fund, 325 Wesley Drive Mechanicsburg, PA 17055.

To send messages of condolence to the Southworth family, please visit www.Parthemore.com.