FRANCIS J. “Frank” LOFTUS headed west peacefully on May 29, 2020. Because we have faith, we believe that he has gone to a better place, were soaring in the sky does not require an airplane. He is reunited with his best friend and the love of his life of 56 years, Marguerite M. Loftus who preceded him in death.
Frank was born and raised in upstate N.Y. by a large extended family. His early passion was baseball and he was offered a position with the N.Y. Yankees. However, upon graduation from high school, he immediately enlisted in the United States Air Force where he proudly served for 22 years.
Frank’s service by years and jobs were as follows: 1950-1956 trained for and served as a GCA Operator; 1956-1958 Flight Facilities Officer, Robins AFB, GA; beginning in 1960 he completed jet pilot training at Laredo, TX, operational training in the F-100 Super Saber (better know as the “Hun”) at Nellis AFB, NV, and flew the Hun with the 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) at Misawa, Japan, until 1963; from 1963-to-1966, he served as an Instructor Pilot with the 3560th Pilot Training Squadron at Webb AFB, TX, (T-33, T-37); from 1966, he served first with the 514th Fighter Squadron (VNAF) at Bien Hoa, RVN, flying A-1Hs until he was reassigned to the 90th TFS at Bien Hoa, again flying the Hun until his PCS SEA tour ended near the end of 1967; back stateside, still flying Huns, he served with the 524th TFS at Cannon AFB, NM, until late 1969; at that time Major Loftus became the ALO for the 2nd Armored Div. based at Ft. Hood, TX, and by mid-1971, he was reassigned to the staff of the 12th Air Force IG at Bergstrom AFB, TX. In both his last assignments, he continued to fly F-100s AND T-33s and he retired in 1972 … with a heck of a lot of F-100 Super Saber/Hun time!
After leaving the Air Force, Frank graduated from the University of Texas and continued to fly professionally and personally. He remained an avid baseball enthusiast, UT sports fan, golfer, writer, and photographer.
He is survived by his daughter, Kathleen Makowski (Michael) of Davidsonville, Md., and his son, Michael (Glee) of Maumelle, Ark. He was extremely proud of his three granddaughters, Michelle (Mark Cox), Amy (Jimmy Gibson), and Elizabeth, his great-grandson, Kyle Cox, and was anticipating the birth of his second great-grandchild in November. He had many nieces and nephews whom he loved greatly.
Visitation will be held at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home at 6300 W. William Cannon Dr., Austin, Texas 78749, at 11 a.m. until the Mass of Christian Burial which will be held at noon in the Chapel. Share condolences at www.CookWaldenForestOaks.com.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Frank’s name to Arkansas Hospice, www.arkansashospice.org/donations which provided him with totally compassionate care or his parish church www.ihmnlr.org that was responsible for his spiritual welfare.
May God richly bless and keep safe those he left behind. We mourn the loss of his physical presence but rejoice that he has gone home to live forever with his Lord.
Published June 7, 2020