MARGARET SOUTHWICK

March 24, 1934 – November 13, 2021

Margaret Jacobsen Southwick peacefully entered eternal life on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at home with family by her side. On Monday, December 6 there will be an internment ceremony at Bakersfield National Cemetery at 10:45 AM followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 2 PM at the First United Methodist Church on Stockdale Highway.

Margaret was born in Bakersfield on March 24, 1934 to Pauline and Louis Jacobsen. Pauline was the original Kern County School teacher starting in a single room school teaching grades 1 through 12 and Louis worked at Larson's Diary. Being an only child, Margaret developed a lifelong habit of reading, so much so that she gained the nickname “bookworm.” She also studied piano, becoming an accomplished pianist and later taught upwards of thirty piano students a week. Margaret graduated from BHS and was a life-long Driller booster. She also graduated cum laude from Pomona College in 1955.

In 1951 following church services, Margaret noticed the choir director of the First Congregational Church, Dick Southwick, ripping off his tie while walking into the courtyard to solicit potential choir members. She immediately joined the choir and eventually they were married. Together nearly 60 years until his death in 2014, they raised four daughters. Margaret became the church organist supporting her husbands choirs and managing church service music. She also played the organ at many local weddings.

Margaret was a passionate advocate for neglected and abused children. In order to help these children directly, she became a Kern County Social Worker. For over a decade, she worked saving these children from unacceptable situations from her position at Child Protective Services. Later, she transferred into the Foster Care division where she continued helping children for over twenty-five years until her retirement. Thereafter, she continued her work supporting children, hosting multiple international exchange students in her home.

After their children were grown, Dick and Margaret began a robust retirement filled with social learning clubs and extensive travel. Margaret finally had the opportunity to visit the places she'd spent many years reading about. She traveled to the top of the world and the bottom and many places in between; in the end, she had visited six continents. Margaret was also a lifelong learner and teacher participating in the 60 Plus Club at CSUB and as president of the Red Hat Ladies Club. She also was a founder of a local women's Dollars and Sense Club. The club's mission was to ensure women understood investing and money management. She continued into her 80's to share her love of music singing alto in the Goldenaires Chorus.

Margaret is survived by her daughters Karen, Colleen, Kathy and Heather, four sons-in-law, three grandchildren, plus her five great-grandchildren with a sixth on the way!

Donations in her honor may be made to CASA of Kern County, a non-profit advocacy for abused and neglected children. To contribute, please visit kerncasa.org.

www.bakersfield.com/obits