Joseph Lyndhurst Lofthouse

Joseph Lyndhurst Lofthouse
born August 22, 1919
died April 28, 2014

Joseph Lyndhurst Lofthouse, 94, passed away April 28, 2014, at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home after a brief illness.  Mr. Lofthouse, affectionately known to so many as “Lofty,” was born in Perryville, MD. Except for 21 years of active military service, he lived his entire life in Cecil County.

Mr. Lofthouse was truly one of the “Greatest Generation” and fought bravely during WWII. He entered into military service in October of 1939 with Co. E. 118th Infantry, 29th Division.  In the Spring of 1942, he became a qualified parachutist and was assigned to the 502nd Parachute Infantry, 101st Airborne Division.  He participated in two parachute invasions (D-Day on June 6, 1944 and Holland on September 17, 1944) and fought in four major infantry operations, including Normandy, Holland, Ardennes and Central Europe.  His decorations earned include the Bronze Medal, Purple Heart, ETO Medal with four Battle Stars and two Spearheads, Parachute Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, Netherland Orange Lanyard, French Croix de Guerre with Palm, and Belgian Fourragere of 1940.  Just before his death, he was also awarded the French Croix d’Honneur, naming him as a Knight in the National Order of the Legion of Honour, the highest decoration given by France.  Although highly decorated, Mr. Lofthouse was always humble and quick to remember his brave friends who lost their lives during the war.

After retiring from active duty in November 1962, he was employed by the Navy at Bainbridge, MD for 13 years.  He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8175 and the 29th Infantry Association.  He will be greatly missed, especially for his amazing stories about his life growing up and his time as a soldier who among many feats, stormed Hitler’s “Eagle’s Nest,” liberated a Nazi concentration camp, and participated in one of the only fixed bayonet charges of WWII near Carentan in Normandy, France.

Mr. Lofthouse is survived by his two daughters, Gloria Jean Allen of Ormond Beach, FL and Francine Karmes (married to Roger) of Charlestown, MD; and his special friend, Dee, of Middletown, DE. He is also survived by several siblings, 6 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren.

Mr. Lofthouse was the son of the late Joseph H. and Etta Lofthouse of Elkton, MD, and the husband of the late Agnes Lofthouse, also of Elkton, MD. He will be greatly missed.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 3, 2014 at Glorious Presence Church, 1552 Singerly Road, Elkton, MD with a viewing from 10 to 11am and a service at 11am.  Burial will be at the North East United Methodist Church Cemetery at 101 Cemetery Road, North East, MD 21901.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Cecil County Memorial VFW Post 6027, 815 Turkey Point Road, North East, MD, in name of Joseph Lofthouse.

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