Obituary - Larry Loftin

Larry Steven Loftin (Steve), age 80 from Hume, Missouri died on July 14, 2026. He was born on December 11, 1945 in Monahans, Texas, the second son of William and Jessie Loftin. The family moved to Augusta, Arkansas when he was about ten and Steve graduated from Laura Conner HS in 1964. He attended Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway until he was drafted into the Army. He served in the Army from 1966-68 spending most of his time in Turkey. Upon returning he attended Arkansas State University in Jonesboro where he met and married his wife, Rebecca (Becky) Whitlock. They married in December of 1968 and have been married for 57 years.

Steve graduated with a BA degree in Business Administration. When finished with school, the couple moved to Memphis, Tennessee. Steve worked as a bank manager for First Tennessee. After 6 years, they moved to Kansas in the Ft. Scott area and then to Hume, Missouri where they have made their home for over 45 years. Two sons were born to them: Jeffrey Dean Loftin in 1978 and Keith Aaron Loftin in 1979. Steve worked as a boilermaker in Local 83 for almost four years and as a Journeyman Mechanic at Kansas Power and Light for 23 years. He attended the Hume Christian Church, was a Hume School Board member for 10 years, coached T-Ball and Little League, and served in the Masons.

Steve retired in 2004 and did more of what he truly loved: fishing, hunting, gardening, yardwork, traveling, and, of course, spending time with his family. Fishing favorites for him were spending time down in the Gulf area and fishing with nephew, BP King and friend, Mike Casey. He also enjoyed fishing our pit from his pontoon boat, named "Arky" by his good friend Kenny Wood. Becky often called Steve "Mr. Fix It" because she was sure he probably fixed something every day for her.

He is survived by his loving wife Becky; his son Jeff and Angela and their children Micah, Maddie, and Morgan in Columbia, MO; son Keith and Britt and their children Emma and Finn in Corvallis, OR; sister Helen Haltiwanger and her sons Richard, Mike and Kenneth; nephews Bill (Kim) King; O'Neal King; Corey Ussery and niece Diana Bosman and their many children and grandchildren. There is also a host of in-laws from all over the world: Poway CA, Arnold MO, Tulsa OK, Baton Rouge LA, Sun City AZ, Creal IL, St. Louis MO, Memphis TN, and even Thailand! These are "The Whitlocks" who came to know and love Hume over the years through our 4th of July Reunions.

Funeral services were held July 22, 2026 at Hume Christian Church in Street, Hume, MO 64752. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donating your time or monetary support to the Hume Food Pantry. Steve loved this local collection of churches and people that come together to support the people of Hume. Donations can be sent to Hume Alliance Ministry, PO Box 404, Hume, MO.

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