Francis Loth

1937 - 2025

F.R. "Rusty" Loth, Jr. (88) of Memphis, TN, a native of Waynesboro, VA, passed away on May 16, 2025. He was preceded in death by his wife, Andrea Hopf Loth, the love of his life for 43 years. He is survived by his daughter, Laura J. Loth of Memphis, TN, his brother, William J. Loth, III and his wife Nancy of Fishersville, VA, his niece Jennifer Fletcher of Midlothian, VA, and his nephew William Jefferson Loth, IV of Afton, VA. Rusty was a devoted and loving family man, proud of his gift for making friends-and keeping them-across both years and miles. To him, no one was ever a stranger. He loved growing up in the Shenandoah Valley, sharing a joke and a good laugh, and staying in touch with his VMI Brother Rats. He also delighted in watching sports, viewing and discussing movies, prowling in thrift stores, and discovering beer joints. Rusty graduated from Fishburne Military School, attended Virginia Military Institute for 3.5 years, and graduated from East Tennessee State University, where he received his commission into the U.S. Army. He proudly served as an Armored Cavalry Officer, with tours in Korea and Germany. It was in Baumholder, an army base nestled in the German hills, where he met his wife Andrea: a third-grade teacher from Connecticut, a gentle and quiet complement to his outgoing nature. After five years of active duty, he returned to civilian life and had a fulfilling and successful career as a sales associate with Johns Manville Corporation while living in Lynchburg, VA, Charlottesville, VA, and Richmond, VA. He served as president of the Fishburne Alumni Association, served for several years on the school's Board of Trustees, and remained deeply engaged in the activities of the VMI class of 1959 throughout his life. Rusty possessed many admirable qualities, but none more defining than his unwavering loyalty and the boundless love he showed to his family and friends, both old friends in Virginia and around the country, and new friends in his community in Memphis, TN where he moved to be closer to his daughter in 2018. A graveside service for family and friends will be held at 11a.m. on Friday, March 13, 2026 in Hollywood Cemetery, 412 South Cherry Street, Richmond, VA 23220. In lieu of flowers, Rusty requested that memorial contributions be made to the charity of your choice--and that you treat an old or new friend to a beer.