John F. Loonam
Gloucester, VA – John Francis Loonam passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family and friends. He was born in Freeport, NY to Walter Loonam and Grace Agatha Fields Loonam. After graduating from Freeport High School in June of 1951, John joined the Navy. He married the love of his life, Barbara Morris (Bobbie), October 24, 1953, in Yuma, AZ.
John’s Navy career lasted 30 years, and he retired at the rank of CW04 in Jan. 1982. His duty stations included: Bainbridge, MD, Nov. 1951 – Feb. 1952; Yorktown, VA, Feb. 1952 – Jul. 1952; USS Sperry, Jul. 1952 – Oct. 1953; San Diego, CA, Oct. 1953 – Nov. 1954; Oahu, HI, Dec. 1954 – Dec. 1955; New London, CT, Jan 1956 – Feb. 1958; Malta Island, Mar. 1958 – Feb. 1961; Bushnell, Mar. 1961- Sept. 1961; Key West, FL, Sept. 1961 - Aug. 1965; Long Beach, CA, Sept 1965 – Feb. 1967; Newport, RI, Feb. 1967 Jul.- Jul.1967; USS Yellowstone, Jul. 1967 – Sept. 1970 (Mayport, FL); Yorktown, VA, Sept. 1970 – Feb. 1973; Subic Bay, Philippines Feb. 1973 - May 1974; Yorktown, VA, Jun. 1974 - Jun. 1976; Kadena Okinawa, Japan, Jul. 1976 – Feb. 1979; Yorktown, VA, Feb. 1979 – Jan. 1982.
After serving in the Navy, John began working for E.L. Hamm & Associates as a defense contractor where he remained for five years. John was very proud to have obtained an associate degree in business administration with honors from Rappahannock Community College. John was a dedicated member of the Association of Minemen and attended their yearly reunions. He also held lifetime memberships with the Knights of Columbus, Fourth Degree, and the American Legion. John was a devout Catholic and a member of the Church of St. Therese in Gloucester since 1982.
John dedicated countless hours to researching his family genealogy, tracing his ancestry back to Cloghan, Ireland in Offaly County. Above all else, John valued his family and friends, cherishing every opportunity to bond over shared stories and making memories. His efforts helped strengthen the connections between the many branches of the Loonam family over the years. John was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend, with a great sense of humor and an impeccable memory.
John is preceded in death by his wife Bobbie, sons Lawrence and John, Jr., siblings Walter, Bernard, Patricia, Margaret Rowe, Mary (stillborn), George and Patrick.
John is survived by his sons Michael (Antonella) of SC and Gregory (Amy) of VA; his daughters Kathleen Loonam-Herndon (Phil) of VA, Diane Parker (Jodie) of FL, and Sandy of VA. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Heather Velders of NJ, John D. (Tammy) of OH, Salvatore (Sarah) of FL, Teresa of FL, Nicole Reid (Zach) of VA, Tyler Parker (Kourtney) of FL, Alexander Odell of NC, Delany of NC, Sydney of VA, Justin Parker of NC and Megan Odell of NJ. John is also survived by many great-grandchildren and one great-greatgrandson, as well as many nieces and nephews.
The family has arranged a time for friends to pay their respects on Sunday, April 21, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Andrews Funeral Home located at 7192 Main Street, Gloucester, VA 23061. A Celebration of Life mass will be held on April 22, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. at the Church of St. Therese, 6262 Main Street, Gloucester, VA 23061. After the mass, there will be a reception hosted by the Theresians; all are welcome to attend. The interment service at Arlington National Cemetery will be announced at a later date. If you would like to donate in memory of John, please send it to St. Therese Parish Growth Fund. In lieu of flowers, please plant a tree or donate to your local SPCA.