Ed Loudat

Ed Loudat, a resident of Albuquerque since 2010 and a resident of Roswell from 1948-2010, died Monday afternoon, October 20, 2014, at the age of 92. Ed was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 9, 1922, to Charles and Mary (Kuba) Loudat, who were immigrants from Bohemia. Ed came to New Mexico during World War II, when he was stationed at Roswell Army Air Field. It was there that Second Lt. Edward Loudat met the valedictorian of Roswell High School for 1943, Lois Lillian Hill, at a dance at the Roswell Army Airfield Officers Club. Just a few days later, on November 3, 1945, they began their nearly 65 years of marital bliss. The young couple returned to Ed's hometown upon his discharge from active duty in 1946, so he could complete his education in mechanical engineering at Fenn College in Cleveland. A couple of years later, following the birth of their first son, they returned to Roswell where he worked for F.W. Hill Plumbing and Heating Co. as a plumber. Ed took over his father-in-law's business in 1952, and for the remainder of the 20th century he worked as both a licensed plumbing and heating contractor and a senior residential appraiser (SRA). He retired from the Air Force Reserves at the rank of Major. Ed joined The American Legion in 1950. He was a life member of the Mason's Roswell Lodge #18 and a member of the Roswell Shrine Club and the Ballut Abyad Shrine Temple. He served in various capacities in the Shrine Club, including one year as president; and he led the marching patrol and was an aid to the state potentate. Ed and Lois were very supportive of their children's various athletic endeavors, primarily baseball and track and field, and they watched proudly as all of them followed their mom as graduates of Roswell High and they all earned college degrees. Survivors include their sons: Web of Brandon, England, Corky and his wife Blair of Gresham, Ore., John and his wife Kathy of Albuquerque; a daughter, Melissa and her wife Jimmie Rhodes of Albuquerque; two granddaughters: Mary Kelly and her husband George of Cedar Park, Texas, and Joni Byers and her husband Andy of Albuquerque; and four great-grandchildren: Alyssa Byers, Ethan Kelly, Maleah Kelly and Jeremiah Byers. Memorial services will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 30, 2014, at FRENCH - Wyoming. Inurnment will take place at 11:15 a.m. on Friday, October 31, 2014, at Santa Fe National Cemetery with military honors by the United States Air Force. The family requests that those wishing to make memorial contributions consider the Roswell Humane Society, 703 E. McGaffey, Roswell, NM 88203; or Shriners Hospitals for Children at . FRENCH - Wyoming 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400