John A. Southern

John A. Southern Sr. passed away peacefully in South Bend, IN on hospice care on May 30, 2026.

John was born on March 25, 1942, in Lutts, Tennessee. He was the son of William and Virgie (Bevis) Southern. He had a brother James and sister Helen who are now deceased.

He joined the army at 19 and married Verna Mae Weeks. They had two sons, John Jr. (Cathy) and William Timothy (Jackie); five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He spent 60 years of his life in the optical field, becoming a certified optician with the American Board of Opticianry in 1983. His hobbies were repairing small motors and his two classic cars.

We will be gathering to celebrate John on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, from 10 a.m. until 12 noon. Military honors and a funeral service will immediately follow the gathering, starting at noon. All services will be held at Palmer Funeral Home – Bubb Chapel, 3910 N. Main St., Mishawaka, IN 46545. Procession to Fairview Cemetery will follow the service where John will be laid to rest in the military section.

Memorial contributions may be made in John’s name to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516. Visit our website at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.