Donald Robert "Bob" Loft, 95, went to meet his Lord and Savior on June 16, 2016 while surrounded by three generations of his family. He had been in failing health for the last six years. Bob was born on March 19, 1921, in Tippecanoe County. He was born as the fifth son and the fifth child of 13 to the late J. Frederick and Dorotha (Hoshaw) Loft. He graduated from Dayton High School in 1940.

He was one of the last of the "Greatest Generation." After high school, he joined the United States Navy where he served in the Atlantic Theater during WWII. He was one of four of his siblings who served in WWII. Bob served on escort ships and finished his naval career in Cuba, teaching new recruits how to use communications equipment.

On July 16, 1947, he was married to Irma Downey in the Dayton United Methodist Church. They were married almost 69 years.

For most of Bob's professional life, he was a self-employed plumbing and electrical contractor. He ended his career working at Loeb's Department Store. Bob was a long time, faithful and invested, member of Dayton United Methodist Church where he served the Lord in many ways, including foreign mission trips. He enjoyed playing euchre, he was an avid Chicago Cubs fan (Go Cubs!), and for many years held season tickets to Purdue Women's Basketball. He also enjoyed raising cattle and gardening, but most of all Bob enjoyed spending time with his family. His grandchildren were the apple of his eye. At age 85, he still got down on the floor and played with the kids. He would also take them sledding and on tractor rides.

Surviving with his wife, Irma, are their children, Victoria Bingaman, Barbara Loft, Florence (Larry) Nydegger all of Lafayette, Steven (Andrea) Loft of Elkhart, Charles (Teresa) Loft of Lafayette, and Mark (Meredith) Loft of Lafayette; his sisters, Dorothy Brown of Michigan, Mary Watts of Lafayette, Miriam Dye of Lafayette, Joy (Glen) Stuckel of Louisville, and Janet (Charles) Anderson of Williamsport; 19 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by a beloved grandson, Michael Nydegger, his brothers, Ralph, Paul, Gerald, Delbert, and James Loft, and his sisters, Elizabeth Carlson and Betty Clift.

A visitation will be held from 4-7 PM on Monday, June 20, 2016 at the Dayton United Methodist Church with a Celebration of Life to follow at 7 p.m. with Rev. Charles Anderson officiating. The committal service will begin at 10 AM on Tuesday, June 21, 2016, at the Dayton United Methodist Church with internment with full military honors to follow at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens. Fisher Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements.
--Lafayette Journal & Courier - 6/20/2016