Raymond A Lootens

Raymond A. Lootens, 84, of rural Manlius passed away Sunday, July 31, 2016, at Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton. Born May 30, 1932, in Sheffield to Camille and Martha (Van Meltebeck) Lootens, he married Shirley A. Wallace on March 5, 1955, in Princeton. She survives. He graduated from Sheffield High School in 1951 and was a lifetime farmer. He worked at Kraft Foods in Manlius and Kory Farm Equipment in Manlius. He was a member of St. Patrick''s Catholic Church in Sheffield, Wyanet VFW Post 6634 and a card club. He was a frequent at the coffee shop and enjoyed watching his grandchildren play sports. He served as a sergeant first class in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He was the recipient of the Korean Service Medal, two Bronze Service Stars, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Korean Presidential Unit Citation and Combat Infantry Badge. He was a member of the Honor Flight in October of 2013. Also surviving are two sons, Ron Lootens of Wyanet and Randy (Caryn) Lootens of Sheffield; one daughter, Sandy (Steve) Etheridge of Springfield; 10 grandchildren, Clark Etheridge of Indianapolis, Ind., Ryan Lootens of Sheffield, Connor Etheridge of Springfield, Rick Lootens of Sheffield, Carter Etheridge of Springfield, Dustin (Meghan) Weber of Galva, Spencer (Annette) Davis of Walnut, Luke (Deanna) Davis of Princeton, Brian (Jennifer) Davis of Thomas and Angel Weber of Lugoff, S.C.; 11 great-grandchildren, Drake, Wyatt, Cael, Teegan, Keighley, Landon, Grayson, Bennett, Kip and Merrick Davis, and Jovie Weber; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Julius and Henry Lootens; and two sisters, Dorothy Frantzen and Elsie DeBord. Services will be at 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, at St. Patrick''s Catholic Church in Sheffield with Father Mark Miller officiating. Burial will be in the Greenville-Fairfield Chapel Cemetery in rural New Bedford with military rites conducted by Wyanet VFW Post 6634. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, at the Grant-Johnson Funeral Home in Princeton, where a rosary will be recited at 5 p.m. Pallbearers will be Clark Etheridge, Connor Etheridge, Carter Etheridge, Rick Lootens, Ryan Lootens and Dustin Weber. Honorary pallbearers will be Spencer and Luke Davis. Memorials may be directed to the Wyanet VFW, Manlius Fire and Rescue and St. Patrick''s Catholic Church in Sheffield.