Marvin LOYD

Family-Placed Death Notice

LOYD, Marvin MARVIN LOYD Marvin Loyd, 98, of Brookhaven died November 1, 2012, following a stroke in his sleep on October 27. Born in a log cabin near Chamblee, Marvin worked at his family's Sunrise Dairy Farm and attended Chamblee High School, where he enjoyed baseball, basketball, and track. In 1933, he became the first male student to enter the newly formed Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) in Tifton, where he continued his athletic interests, became an award winning dancer, and acquired lifelong friends and treasured memories. After attending the University of Georgia, Marvin worked for the Post Office and helped at the dairy before serving in the Army Air Corps in World War II. As a crew chief, flight chief, and line chief for the storied P-47 Thunderbolt "Orange Tails," he followed D-Day troops across France and into Germany. After the war, Marvin began a 25-year career as Service Manager for the A.B. Dick Mimeograph Company in Atlanta. In 1948, he married the former Anne Black of Cartersville, to whom he remained a devoted husband for 61 years until her death in 2009. After retirement, Marvin's life revolved increasingly around his beloved Forum Sunday School Class of Chamblee First United Methodist Church, the same church of which his great-great-grandfather was a founding member in 1826. During these years Marvin also became an avid tennis player and developed an interest in distance running, enjoying the Peachtree Road Race into his 80's and winning his age group in the Georgia Senior Olympics for many years. Those victories led him to the National Senior Olympics, where he garnered third and fourth-place medals for the 5 and 10K in both Syracuse, NY, and San Antonio, TX. In his 90's, Marvin enjoyed walking extensively in his neighborhood and keeping up with his many cherished friends there. Most recently he spent two pleasant years in assisted living at Northlake Gardens in Tucker, where he continued his daily walks. Marvin is survived by his sister, Frances Spruill of Braselton; his children Ellis Loyd of Decatur, Ken and Judy Loyd of Southern Pines, NC, and Caryn and Steve Cole of LaGrange; grandchildren Jennifer and Matt Kirby of Aberdeen, NC, Amanda and Stephen Talbert of Pinebluff, NC, and Brantley and Lindsey Cole of LaGrange; and great-grandchildren Claire and Evan Kirby and Brianna and Hunter Talbert. Visitation 12:00-2:00 will be followed by the funeral service at 2:00 PM on Monday, November 5, at Chamblee First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Dr. Royeese Stowe officiating. Burial will be held at Prospect Cemetery, Chamblee. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Chamblee First United Methodist Church, 4147 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Chamblee, GA 30341. Arrangements by H.M. Patterson and Son, Oglethorpe Hill.