George Hobart Loftus - Obituary

t. Comm. USN (Ret.) George Hobart "Hobe" Loftus, 94, a lifelong resident of Annapolis, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, June 15, 2016. Born December 20, 1921, in Baltimore, MD to the late George Roscoe Loftus and Elsie Marie Robinson, George graduated from West Annapolis Elementary, Annapolis High School and attended the University of Maryland where he obtained a degree in mechanical engineering. George enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942 and was commissioned in 1944. He was a highly decorated naval aviator during WWII serving as a night fighter, passive defense specialist and aircraft take-off and landing instructor. He was awarded the Medal of Valor and National Defense Award among many other medals. He served in the Mediterranean and Europe visiting many ports of call. While serving his country he was ordered stateside by the Navy to Pensacola, FL, Athens, GA and Memphis, TN in order to instruct pilots on take-off and landings on aircraft carriers. After being honorably discharged from his service during the war in 1956 George, a metallurgist engineer, went to work as the Senior Operating Engineer for deep ocean pressure submersibles at the Naval Ship Research and Development Laboratory in Annapolis, MD. He was a member of the Elks Lodge #622 in Edgewater, MD as well as the Masonic Order of Escambia County, FL, and a member of the U.S. Naval Reserves. He had many hobbies during his retirement which included instructing and piloting aircraft, travel, woodworking, boat-making and sailing his beloved Chesapeake Bay. He was also an avid reader and animal lover. He was preceded in death by his beloved brother Harold Robinson Loftus; wife Marjorie Loftus in 2010 and his first wife, Frances Dolan Loftus, in 1980. He is survived by daughter Maryann Frances Loftus of Annapolis, MD; two stepdaughters, Susan Hicks and Nancy Ward, both of Edgewater, MD; his sister, Elsie Marie Beardmore of Annapolis, MD; his longtime friend and caretaker, Deborah Murphy-Lake, and his beloved pet Mr. Skittles. Those who knew him can attest to the fact that George was a kind, humble man with a huge heart and he will be missed greatly by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. Military honors and memorial service will be held on Friday, July 8 at 10:45 am in the chapel at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery, 1122 Sunrise Beach Road, Crownsville, MD. Memorial donations may be made to the SPCA of Anne Arundel County, P.O. Box 3471, Annapolis, MD 21403 or the ALS Association, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 6051, Albert Lea, MN 56007.