Richard E. Loftin, surrounded by his loving family, died Friday, March 5, 2010 after a long illness. Mr. Loftin was born in Boston, August 17, 1938, the son of the late Richard C. Loftin and Ruby Garner Loftin. He was married to his wife, Ingrid Rohm Loftin, for 46 years. He was the beloved father of Cristina Curtis and Michelle Loftin Waalewyn. He was also the adored "Opa" to his grandchildren, Nicole and Jennifer Curtis of Billerica and Austin and Brittany Waalewyn of Rockport. He was like a father to his nephew Donald and his family of Whitman. He also leaves his sisters, Helen Evans and her husband Richard of Arizona, Margaret Drake of Florida, Dorothy Keating and her husband Ray of Arizona, and Rita Cavalieri of Florida. He is also survived by his many nieces and nephews all over the country. And, he always had a friend in his buddy, Oreo. He was also the brother of the late Donald Loftin and Evelyn Christian and brother-in-law of the late Michael Cavalieri. Mr. Loftin joined the Air force at age 17. Following that, he entered service in the Army. He went overseas to Germany where he met his wife, Ingrid. He later served in the Army National Guard and was active during Joint Endeavour in 1997, when he was again sent overseas for almost a year. "Dick" retired from the United States Military with Honor in 1998 after proudly serving his country for thirty years. He earned many medals and honors during his extended years of service and was an expert marksman. A Billerica resident, Dick was a member of BATV, where he loved to video military reenactments and parades. He was also a member of the Billerica Minutemen and the Gloucester Marina, where he loved to boat and fish and whale watch with his family.