Dell Jerome (Jerry) Loftis, 89, passed away on Thursday, March 12, 2026. 

Jerry was born in Washington, D.C., and was the second of seven children, born to Helen Grace Hughes Loftis and Reuben Orlando Loftis.  He attended and graduated from George Washington High School in Alexandria, VA.  Jerry began working for the Bell System in Washington, D.C., in 1956; and in 1957 he joined the United State Coast Guard (USCG) and was on active duty with the USCG through 1959.  After an Honorable Discharge he returned to his job with the Bell System and worked his way into various management positions. 

In 1968, he left the Bell System and continued his career in telecommunications with the federal government.  Over a 30-year period he held various management positions with the General Services Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Treasury.  In the last 8 years prior to his retirement from the federal government, he served as a Project Manager for Treasury and was responsible for the procurement, implementation, and operation of a replacement telecommunications system for Treasury and its 10 bureaus in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.  Jerry retired from the federal government in 1996. 

In 2005, after his wife, Lydia, joined him in retirement, they moved from Northern Virginia and settled in Fairhope, Alabama.  Since that time, they made wonderful memories traveling throughout the U.S. in their RV with their cats; visiting their children in Maryland and Florida; visiting Jerry’s sister and brother-in-law (Jill and Don Lemon) on numerous occasions in Myrtle Beach, SC; and enjoying their friends and neighbors in Quail Creek Estates in Fairhope. 

Jerry believed in God and he loved his country and his family. He was extremely compassionate to all animals; but had a particular soft spot in his heart for cats.  He liked to listen to classic country as well as bluegrass music; he had a passion for classic cars; he enjoyed fishing and crabbing in and around the Chesapeake Bay; and he especially enjoyed the yearly event of eating Maryland blue crabs with family and friends at Sandgate’s Inn on the Patuxent River in Southern Maryland. 

In addition to his parents, Jerry was preceded in death by his son, Brian Loftis; brother, Charles Jackson Loftis; and his sister, Carolyn Loftis Johnson. 

He is survived by his wife, Lydia Loftis of Fairhope, AL; sons, Justin Loftis of New Port Richey, FL and Gregory (Andrea) Loftis of Jefferson, MD; his step-grandchildren, Salvatore and Marian DePrenda; son, Jeremy (Jennifer) Loftis of Clarksburg, MD; granddaughters, Josie and Jillian Loftis; stepsons, Kenneth Fiveash of Cantonment FL and Christopher Fiveash of Cantonment, FL; step-grandchildren, Andrew and Aubree Vincent; sisters, Jill Lemon of Durham, NC, Pat Loftis of Rogers, AR, Natalie Allen of Greensboro, NC and Trudy Loftis of Randleman, NC.

There will be a visitation with family and friends on Thursday, March 19, 2026, from 5PM – 7PM at Hughes Funeral Home, 26209 Pollard Road, Daphne, AL. Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 20, 2026, at Hughes Funeral Home at 9:30AM. Interment will be at the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 34904 AL-225, Spanish Fort, AL 36527, immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Baldwin Humane Society; 22886 Highway 98, Unit C, Fairhope, AL 36532.

Expressions of condolence for the family may be made at www.hughesfh.com. Hughes Funeral Home, 26209 Pollard Road, Daphne, AL, is assisting the family.