NATCHEZ — Services for Gene Carroll Loomis Sr., 80, who died Saturday, April 12, 2008, in Lafayette, La., will be at noon on Tuesday at St. Mary Basilica, in Natchez.
Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.
Visitation will be at St. Mary Basilica on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until services begin.
Mr. Loomis was born Feb. 5, 1928, in Clayton, the son of Charles and Clara Sanders Loomis. He was the youngest of 10 children. Mr. Loomis joined the U.S. Navy at the end of War World II. He attended Rice University in Houston and Northwestern University in Natchitoches, La. Mr. Loomis married Mary Catherine Pitchford, of Natchez, on July 1, 1950. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
He was preceded in death by his son, Stephen Patrick Loomis; six brothers, Carl Loomis, Kermit Loomis, Earl Loomis, George Loomis, John Loomis, Charles Loomis and Harry Loomis; two sisters, Wilma Wilkins and husband, Hubert, and Virginia Keathley and husband, Raymond.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years; five sons, Gene C. Loomis Jr., of Lafayette, John C. Loomis, of Natchez, Robert L. Loomis and wife, Dianne E. Johnson Loomis, of Chino Hills, Calif., William F. Loomis of Dallas, Richard L. Loomis and wife, Susan Bissell Loomis, of Julian, Calif.; three daughters, Margaret I. “Peggy” Thaler and fiancé, Steven Harvey of Galveston, Texas, M. Camille Loomis, of Seabrook, Texas, Patricia E. Loomis, of San Pedro, Calif.; one granddaughter, Angela M. Hosseini of Tomball, Texas.; five grandsons, Andrew M. Hosseini of Houston, grandson, Adam M. Loomis. and wife Kayla White Loomis, of Lafayette, grandson, Jason R. Loois and wife Tara Noland Loomis, of Chino, Calif., grandson, Dane Patrick Loomis, of Chino Hills, Erik A. Loomis and Sara Corodva of Chino Hills; three great-grandchildren, Matthew Moreno, of Tomball, Emma Loomis, of Lafayette, Isabel Loomis of Chino; sisters-in-law, Betty Loomis and husband, George, of Clayton, Lorell Loomis and husband, Charles, of Ferriday, Inez Marlow, and husband, Orvis, Judy P. Bartley and husband, Kirk, Patricia Pitchford and husband, Charles; brothers-in-law, Col. John “Jack” Pitchford, Thomas L. Pitchford and wife, Joan, Richard G. Pitchford, Gerald E. Pitchford and wife, Yara, James M. Pitchford and wife, Leigh; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Pallbearers will be Mr. Loomis’ five sons and grandson Adam.
Honorary pallbearers will be grandsons Andrew, Jason, Erik and Dane.
In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be made to Cathedral School, a charity of choice, or, given his lifelong love of reading, a local library or simply buying someone a book.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.lairdfh.com