Vernon Loftin (Tulia)

Tulia, Texas—Vernon Loftin, 93, died August 27, 2009 in Tulia. Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm Saturday August 29, 2009 in the Kornerstone Funeral Directors Chapel with Rev. James Hassell, pastor of First Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Tulia. Jack Vernon Loftin was born March 12, 1916 in Swisher County, Texas to Henry and Viola Armstrong Loftin. He had three siblings; Ashley Loftin, Frank Loftin and Jane Loftin Ford. Vernon’s grandparents, Lovick Loftin and Henry Armstrong were some of the first settlers to farm in the Tulia area. The Armstrong’s came to Tulia in the late 1890’2 and the Loftin’s came to Tulia in about 1906. Vernon would tell stories about the Armstrong’s coming up the Caprock in an ox wagon and the Loftin’s having one of the first thrashers in Swisher County. Both Families settled Northeast of Tulia on sections across the road from each other. Vernon told stories about his mother’s account of his father, Henry, who played the mandolin and Henry’s brother, Ben who played the fiddle, riding over to her house on two mules and serenading her late at night. Vernon attended three schools; Union Hill Kaffir and Tulia High School. After graduation from THS he farmed for awhile and then moved to the Lubbock area working for a rural electric survey crew run by his brother, Ash, who had just graduated from Texas Tech. After going back to Tulia Vernon met and married Mildred Louise Hardy in 1942. After getting married, Vernon and Mildred moved to Martinez, CA where he worked for the Braun Construction Company. After a short stay in California they return to Tulia and farmed for his mother because both his brothers, Ashley and Frank, were called for service in WWII. In 1947 Vernon and his brother Frank purchased the original Loftin home place. They have farmed and run cattle on it for the last 60 plus years. It has been in the Loftin family for nearly 100 years. In 1918 his father purchased a section seven miles north of Tulia. The brothers continue to farm that section of land. Vernon was always conservation minded when it came to farming. In his later years, people would talk about his pulling weeds by hand from his CRP land. Vernon received the Swisher County Conservationist of the Year award. Vernon and Mildred lived on the section of land north of Tulia until 1955, when they moved to Tulia on Crosby Street. They lived there until Mildred’s death on April 7, 2004. Vernon and Mildred had two children: John David Loftin and Carol Ann Loftin. When there children were in school Vernon and Mildred were active in school activities and enjoyed going to basketball games in which both children participated. After graduation from college John began coaching. From 1971 to 1998 Vernon never missed a state tournament or national tournament game in which John’s teams played. He traveled to games in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Tennessee and many other places. Mildred was always with him and doing most of the driving. In the later years you could find Vernon drinking coffee with his friends telling stories about the old times. One of his favorite stories was about his Uncle Frank Loftin who went to the Naval Academy and played football. After graduating in 1911 he was later decorated by King George V of England and President Woodrow Wilson for sinking a German Submarine in WWI. Another of his favorite uncles was Jim Armstrong. He told about the time Jim and Jess Tucker rode all the way from Tulia to Arizona to shoot wild cattle and trap wolves. He had a great memory and a great sense of family and history. His family came to the panhandle of Texas from Tennessee and Alabama. He loved Texas, the Panhandle, Tulia, farming, sports and his family, past and present. In 1942 Vernon turned his life over to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Vernon could be described as a hardworking Christian man who would not compromise his principles and beliefs. Once Vernon turned his life over to the Lord, he was a changed man. You would never hear him us profanity or talk bad about anyone. All he ever saw in people was the good. Not many people have the conviction and gentle spirit of Vernon Loftin. He is a person that cannot be replaced and will be greatly missed by the community and his family. He is preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Mildred Loftin, his sister Jane Ford, and a grandson Clay Otwell. His family includes one son and daughter-in-law: John and Patti Loftin of Midland, TX, one daughter and son-in-law; Carol and Buddy Nicholson of Olton, TX, 5 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Area Community Hospice, 3109 Olton Rd, Suite C, Plainview, Texas 79027.