Ernest (Loren) Stroup, Jr., a proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force, passed away on August 16, 2022.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday August 20, 2022, at Myers Funeral Home in Middletown, with Mike Brandenburg officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Fairmount Cemetery in Middletown. Myers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. on Aug. 19 at the funeral home. There will be a Masonic service at 7 p.m.
Loren was born on September 7, 1941, to Ernest and Gladys (Wagoner) Stroup. After graduating from Webster Groves High School, Loren enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. On December 30, 1961, he married Linda Dobbs in Tulsa, Okla. While stationed overseas, their children, Annelisa and Ricky, were born in Mildenhall, England. Once they returned stateside, Loren’s family would be relocated to multiple bases including Albuquerque, N.M.; Blytheville, Ark.; Grand Forks, N.D.; and Castle Air Force Base in Atwater, Calif.
During his years of service, Loren had the opportunity to spend time in several countries abroad including Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Guam, Philippine Islands, China, Japan, Germany and France. Loren began his experience in the Air Force as a typewriter and safe repairman. He transitioned into the position of boom operator on KC135A aircraft. As boom operator, he safely and effectively transferred fuel from one military aircraft to another during flight. Loren retired from the Air Force in July 1979 with the rank of E6 Tech Sergeant. He and his family later moved to Missouri to be closer to his parents.
After retirement, Loren still found ways to keep busy. He was employed as an auto body instructor at the Pike-Lincoln Technical Center, a security officer in Oklahoma, West Virginia and the Callaway Plant, welder, OTR owner/operator for Schnucks, Rush Trucking and Callaway Carriers and a custodian for the Wellsville-Middletown R-I School District.
Loren served in the Commemorative Air Force for four years. His duties as Master Sergeant included being part of a crew that flew a B-25 Mitchell bomber to various air shows across the United States.
Loren was an active member of the VFW, American Legion, Masonic Lodge #246 and the Missouri Militia.
Loren is survived by his wife, Linda, of the home; daughter, Annelisa Goodman (fiancé, Steve Goshorn) of Rush Hill; son, Ricky (Michelle) Stroup of Wellsville; grandchildren, Brianne (Jason) Beach, Brittany Bishop, Braden Stroup, and Brooke Stroup, all of Wellsville, and Rebekah Goodman, (fiancé Tony Collins) of St. Louis; great-grandchildren, Aiden, Alyssa, and Ashlyn Beach and Josie Bishop, all of Wellsville; sister, Pat Wadlow of Middletown; brother, Gary (Kathleen) Stroup of Jefferson City; sister-in-laws, Imogene (Bob) Clymore and Nancy Fisher of Oklahoma; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; and longtime family friends, Moon and Patti Mullins of Merced, Calif.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Bertha Kincaid; brother-in-law, Bill Kincaid; and nephew, Tommy Kincaid.
Memorials may be given to the Wellsville VFW. They may be sent in care of Myers Funeral Home, 203 E. Bates, Wellsville, MO 63384.
