Wayne Loudin

Wayne Loudin was born Feb 20, 1923 in Mount Morris Pennsylvania. He was the son of Lawrence Wayne Loudin and Gertrude Mae Bosley. We recently celebrated Wayne's 87th birthday with a party attended by friends and family at the nursing home in Boulder. Wayne was the youngest of four boys and one girl. Wayne survived his three older brothers: Loren, Dana and Derries and his older sister Verlena, who we affectionately called 'Grandma Binky.' Wayne grew up and graduated from High School in Heaters West Virginia. Due to medical issues with asthma, Wayne had to move to a warm dry climate. In 1946 at the age of 23 he and his Mom moved to Douglas Arizona. His father Lawrence, a Methodist Minister, followed two years later after completing his ministry contract in W. VA. Three of his sister Verlena's children moved with them to Arizona, his niece Jeanie and two nephews Jack and Donald Bush. Uncle Wayne became a father figure in the center of Jeanie, Jack and Donald's lives, helping to support and raise them. I have it on good authority, Donald Bush, that Jack Bush was quite the trouble maker that kept Wayne very busy. His sister Jeanie has corroborated this allegation and provided some additional facts, Donald too was a handful for Uncle Wayne. Now if Jack could have made here today, I have no doubt he would have spilled the goods on his older sister Jeanie. All their transgressions however, are forgiven, for we would expect nothing less in the behavior of a Methodist Minister's grandchildren. Thank God the three of them had the Lord and Uncle Waynee looking after them. Wayne's first job in Douglas was at Gill's Grocery store; he started out in the produce department and later became the butcher in the meat department. So, many of us younger and distant relatives now know where Wayne developed some of his culinary skills' he learned in the grocery store all about selecting those important ingredients: like how to select ripe fruits and vegetables and the proper cuts of meat which are all so important to prepare those awesome family dinners he was famous for cooking. Wayne's talents in the kitchen and outdoors at the grill are legendary, and over the years he shared many of his secrets with those of us who hung out in the kitchen; and we got to do a lot of taste testing' in quantity! Several of us here today have the tummies and thighs to prove it! Myself included! In 1953 at the age of 30, Wayne went to Tucson Arizona to attend Cosmetology school. By 1955 in just two short years he opened his own shop. My wife Robin remembers him in her youth as her very wealthy uncle who drove cool cars like convertible Porsches and Cadillac, and he had grocery bags filled with silver dollars tucked away in his closet. Six years later in 1961, after opening his first shop, Wayne was elected President of the Cochise County Cosmetologists. Seven years after that, he was elected President of the Arizona State Cosmetologists Association. He was at the top of his game. He was a leader in his chosen profession and respected by his peers and competitors. Of these accomplishments I never once heard him boast or even speak about. I knew Wayne for 30 years and he never told me about these accomplishments, because life was not about him, it was about you, how was work, how was your day, how are your kids? It was over a quiet lunch last week with Jeanie, Donald and Carol that I learned of these accomplishments. In 1976, at the age of 53, he decided to slow down a bit; he sold his business and moved to Denver where he worked at the JC Penny Hair Solon until he retired at age 62. Uncle Wayne was a loving and caring man who helped raise many of his great and great/great nephews and nieces who are with us here today. He took great pride in that he gave nearly every one of them their very first haircut and hundreds more throughout their lives. For me he was a financial blessing, over the years he has given Robin and our children hundreds of free hair cuts and perms. And he has pulled many of the women's hair out of the fire so to speak, who dared venture out on their own to cause a hair catastrophe. He did this for everyone in the family; it was just one of the many ways he showed his love. He was a gentle giant when it came to helping raise his niece and nephews; when they misbehaved he spoke firmly to get their attention. Many times I have heard him speak the words 'I will blister your butt!' The words were simple, yet direct, and always carried the day; without a single spanking ever being administered. He celebrated each and every one of our birthdays by cooking the birthday meal of our choice. Not only did we get to choose our dinner entre, we got to choose our favorite cake or pie for desert. He lived to cook birthday and holiday meals. He attended nearly every niece and nephew's dance recital, swim meet, school play and sporting event while his health was still good. He never hesitated to baby sit when called upon, or to chauffer kids to and from practices and school events. Over the past few years his health rapidly diminished, he seldom if ever complained about the pain. He was as close to the perfect patient the staff could hope for in the nursing home. Nearly every one there knew him and enjoyed his friendship. From the first day he went into the home, a loving niece and nephew, Jeanie and Donald were there by his side, continuously looking after and caring for him. It was not for a debt owed from their childhood when Wayne cared for them, but an act of love, and selflessness which they had learned from the way in which Uncle Waynee lived his life. He will live forever in our hearts, and his character has had an impact on and is reflected in each and every one of us here today. Please share your memories of Wayne and condolences for his family by clicking the ""Sign Guestbook"" tab below.