Willie T. Loftis, Jr., age 90, died Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle. Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of his arrangements. Graveside services, with military honors, will be Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 10:00 AM at Friendship Cemetery with the Rev. Rick Olson officiating. The son of the late W.T. and Emma Robertson Loftis, Mr. Loftis was born December 20, 1920 in Columbus. He was a graduate of Stephen D. Lee Senior High School in Columbus and was a member of First Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He served in the Army/Air Corps as an engineer during WWII and was stationed in Iceland. After he was discharged in November, 1945, he enlisted in the MS Army National Guard, retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer 3. He also retired from the US Postal Service as a mail carrier. He loved to water ski on the Tombigbee River, learning how to barefoot ski at the age of 67. He continued to ski until he was 84 years old. In addition to his parents, He was predeceased by his brothers A.C. Loftis and A.O. "Bubba" Loftis. He is survived by his wife Mildred Glover Loftis and his son Eric K. Loftis, both of Columbus, his daughter Marisa Bruner (Sam Williams)of Starkville, his sisters Mary Frances Stafford and Ruth Gayle Pigue, both of Biloxi, MS , one granddaughter Marisa Loftis Bruner of Starkville anda number of nieces and nephews . Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Jack Reed, Dr. Barton Williams, Dr. Dan Bennett, Physicians and Staff of Fresenius Medical Clinic, M.L. "Mac" McCarty,Victor Lancaster, and Lee High School Athletic Alumni. Memorials may be made to the Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society, P.O. Box 85, Columbus, MS 39703.
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