Gary & Dee Loftin: Community & Designated Endowment Funds

It started, as so many great stories do, with a wedding.

Gary was friends with Dee’s brother, Joe—same high school class, same circle of friends. Dee was two years older, but something changed when Joe asked Gary to be part of his wedding. It sparked a connection that became the foundation of a relationship spanning more than four decades.

Dee began teaching in 1974 at Atwood Elementary School and later became one of the first teachers at Eisenhower Elementary School when they opened in 1991. With her school just a stone’s throw from the home she and Gary built, the building became the setting for years of dedicated work. For 35 years, she poured her heart into teaching second and third graders who would remember her not just for the class lessons, but for her caring spirit.

Gary worked his way through college, becoming the first person on both sides of his family to graduate from a four year college. He enjoyed a successful 30 year career as an Account Manager for the Food Packaging Division of Sealed Air Corporation. His career allowed both he and Dee to attend banquets & meetings at resort venues around the United States. No matter where they traveled through the years, they always looked forward to coming home to Warsaw. “We have always loved Warsaw and the surrounding area. It’s been a great place to grow up.”

Gary and Dee have always had a soft spot for young kids, especially those most in need of support and encouragement. Over the years, they’ve seen the challenges some students face. “Some kids are going through so much, and no one even knows until years later,” they shared. “Our dream is that we can help those children who need it most.”

That heartfelt desire led them to create two funds at the Community Foundation including the Gary and Dee Loftin Designated Endowment Fund and the Gary and Dee Loftin Community Fund.

In addition to supporting community needs in Kosciusko County, their fund will support CASA of Kosciusko County, Inc., Baker Youth Club, Joe’s Kids Inc., Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana, and the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County.

“If we could tell young people anything, we’d share to find something that you love and pursue it. Not everyone has guidance or support. But if you find something that you love to do, consider yourself fortunate,” they shared. The Loftin’s hope that their funds help guide and encourage the younger generations to pursue what means the most to them.

As they sit on the balcony of their favorite vacation spot in Hilton Head, South Carolina, where they honeymooned in 1989, there is peace knowing that their legacy will live on through the laughter of children and their love for Kosciusko County.