Raymond J. Loftus

Castleton- It is with great sadness the family of Raymond Joseph Loftus acknowledge his death on Wednesday, January 21, 2021 after a courageous battle with kidney disease. He transitioned from this worldly life in the comfort of his Castleton home with family at his side aided by Community Hospice. Ray was born in the Bronx, NY in 1949 to the late Joseph and Millie (Ondrush) Loftus. He attended Catholic school until enrolling in public high school. He served in the US Naval Reserve. In 1979 he moved to Columbia County. He attended HVCC and graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology Tool and Die/CAD design program. He worked for H & H Hulls in Greenport for several years. He worked as a surveyor’s assistant and owned and operated a NYC-style hotdog vending cart. He trained as a mason’s apprentice and worked through the Albany union prior to his employment with the NYS Dept. of Transportation in Poughkeepsie, NY. He retired from DOT in 2012 after 20+ years of service. Ray loved boating and the ocean, entertaining friends and family, doo-wop and 60’s music, dancing, and traveling. Some of his happiest times were his summer barbeques, annual Superbowl parties, family celebrations, and vacations in the Caribbean, especially Aruba. Ray leaves behind his devoted wife of over 40 years, Barbara Anne (Coe) of Castleton; his beloved son, William Raymond (Kirstin Meyerson) Loftus; two grandsons, Liam Redmond and Grady George Loftus of Chatham; his sister, Sharon Walton of E. Chatham; sister-in-law, Patricia J (Coe) Murray of Sebring, FL; brother-in-law, William M (Sandra) Coe of Bolton Valley, VT; brother-in-law, G. Mark (Cheryl) Dennis of Sanford, FL; as well as a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Ray also leaves behind many friends who came to know him as honest, reliable, and loyal. He was a man with a hard exterior and a kind, caring interior. The W.J. Lyons Jr. Funeral Home in Rensselaer has been entrusted with final arrangements. There will be no calling hours. The family will have a celebration of Ray’s life when COVID restrictions are lifted. In lieu of flowers, please consider the donation of time, ability, or financially to your favorite charity, Community Hospice or the National Kidney Foundation. The family also requests the consideration of organ donation, a gift of life.