Harold Gene Loftis

January 1, 1930 - October 26, 2018

Pratt, Kansas - Harold Gene Loftis was born January 1, 1930 in Booneville, Arkansas to Lenard andLois (Ledbetter) Loftis. He passed away on Friday, October 26, 2018 in Pratt. The family moved to Poteau, Oklahoma when he was very young. In February 1944, at the age of 14, Harold enlisted in the United States Army in WWII. After 3 years he was honorably discharged in February of 1947. He served his combat years in the Philippines Islands in the battles of Leyte and Luzon. He drove a truck for a period of years and then moved to Kansas, where he spent the last 30 years of his working life in the oil fields of Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado and Texas. He later married Lola (Leuenberger) Loftis and moved to Liberal in 1968, where they raised their children. In 1988 they moved to Rich Hill, Missouri, where they resided for 5 years. In November of 1993 the moved to Golden, Missouri where he enjoyed fishing and hunting. Although he loved to fish and hunt his favorite hobby was his family. Needing to keep busy he went to work at Silver Dollar City Theme Park in 1996 in Branson, Missouri, where the public was his biggest attraction. He made many friends there and loved his co workers. He is survived by his wife, Lola, of the home; three daughters, Sheila Dunn and husband, Cecil of Golden, Missouri, Deborah Watson and husband, Curt of Gainesville, Texas and Sue Valdez and friend, Mike Schmidt of Tyrone, Oklahoma; five sons, Leonard Loftis and wife, Cheri of Mesa, Arizona, Todd Loftis and wife, Melissa of Palm Bay, Florida, Edward Loftis and wife, Carla of Wheaton, Missouri, Randy Schenkel of North Charleston, West Virginia and Alan Loftis and wife, Laura of Pratt; one brother, Jack Roger and wife, DeLois of Poteau, Oklahoma; 29 grandchildren; 53 great grandchildren; 6 great great grandchildren; two sister in-laws, Faye Loftis of Great Bend and Kathy Sivils of Nevada, Missouri; and special member of the family, Tad McVay and wife, Marcy of Allen, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers; one sister; one grandson; and one great grandson. He was loved by many and will be greatly missed. Visitation will be Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with family receiving friends Sunday from 2-4 at Larrison Mortuary, 300 Country Club Road, Pratt. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, October 29, 2018 at Larrison Mortuary. Burial with military honors will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery, Pratt. Memorials may be made to Heartland Hospice in care of Larrison Mortuary.