Loftin
LOFTIN
GENEALOGY
LINE
The
LOFTIN
Family
Tree
Philip
Daniel
Loftin
(1977 - 20??)
Curtis
Dean
Loftin
(1953 - 20??)
Sam
William
Loftin
(1918 - 1979)
Alonzo
Lester
Loftin
(1876 - 1937)
William Alexander
Loftin
(1851 - 1939)
James
Franklin
Loftin
(1827 - 1864)
Thomas
Loftin
(1798 - 1842)
James
Loftin
(1768 - 1836)
John
Loftin
(1740 - 1793)
_______
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Curtis Dean Loftin
Born: 08 May 1953, Catawba County, NC
Curtis Dean Loftin was the second child of Sam William Loftin and Willie Aleen Goble.
He was born May 8, 1953 at the Catawba Hospital in Newton, N.C., at 2:19 P.M., almost ten years after the birth of his brother, William (Billy) Ray. Curtis weighed 8 lbs. 10 ½ oz. and was 20 inches long.
Sam & Willie were living on E. Bandys Rd. when Curtis was born, but moved to Hwy. 10 in 1954. Sam was 34-years-old and Willie was 27-years-old.
Curtis' birth certificate from the Catawba Hospital in Newton, NC
Curtis' parents
Sam William Loftin & Willie Aleen Goble
A number of children in the 1950s had a virus that resulted in dysentery that the Doctor’s couldn’t get stopped.
Curtis came down with the same malady. The Doctors actually gave up on him and said he was going to die, and wouldn’t live through the night.
Willie and Sam started praying - asking God to heal him. Suddenly they both stood up at the same time and said, “He’ll be better in the morning!” Willie's sister, Helen, said, “I don’t believe it. I heard the Doctor’s say he wouldn’t live through the night.” But God had other plans, and Curtis did live.Curtis in 1954
(Left) Martin Goble, Curtis & Sam, Fred Isenhour Celebrate May birthdays
(Right) Curtis, age 3
During this time, Curtis’ maternal grandparents, Martin & Nessie Goble, were living with Fred & Lib Isenhour in the old Lowrance house on Lowrance Rd., out of Catawba. On one occasion, Willie had left Curtis with Grandma Goble for the day. He and his cousin, Marie (Fred & Lib’s youngest daughter) were playing in the barn with a cat. One of the two got the bright idea to take some paint they had found and paint the cat. Well, they did! When Grandma Goble found out, she was furious - and whipped Marie. For some reason, she let Curtis slide without a whipping.
(Below) Curtis on the swing outside his house
It was around that time that Sam fell off of a house during construction and broke his leg and was unable to work. During one of those days, when Curtis was 5-years-old, he decided to walk to Catawba Elementary to see his brother, Billy Ray. He went to his parent’s bedroom, got a clean shirt out of the closet and put it on. He started walking toward Catawba, but only walked about ¼ mile before he got scared and returned home. That evening, Curtis told Billy Ray that he had started to walk to Catawba in order to see him at school. Billy Ray told their Dad, and Curtis got one of the few whippings he ever got from his Daddy.
Grandma Nessie Goble died in February 1959, the same year that Curtis started First Grade at Catawba Elementary School. The school was a two-story building with a basement. There was only one class for each grade level. Grades one through four were on the ground floor and grades five through eight (and the library were on the second-floor. Student bathrooms, teacher’s lounge, custodial storage, and the school store (where they sold ice cream after lunch) was located in the basement.
(Left) Catawba Elementary School/High School
1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade
4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade
7th Grade 8th Grade 9th Grade
10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade
Curtis' first job, when he turned 16, was working 2nd shift at Betterware Hosiery Mill dying socks. Other summer jobs, over the next few years included… (1) bagger & stock boy at Johnson’s Food Store and Twin City # 3 in Catawba, NC, (2) unloading supplies from trucks & driving tow-motor at Basset in Newton, NC, (3) unloading, storing, and supplying foam rubber at Reeves Curon in Conover, NC.
He didn't know what he wanted to do when he graduated from high school, but during his Junior year at Bunker Hill, the school Guidance Counselor suggested that he become a school teacher. She told him that Principals were always looking for men teachers and that the position provided good job security. Thus, a lifetime career path was chosen.
In the summer of 1970, while attending Bible School at Mathis Chapel Baptist Church, Curtis invited Jesus/Yeshua into his heart and became a Christian.
Appalachian State University, Freshman 1971 - 1972, Sophomore 1972 - 1973, Junior 1973 - 1974
Curtis applied and was accepted at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C. He graduated from ASU June 1, 1975 with a BS in Elementary Education, Grades 4 - 8, with a concentration in Math. Curtis met Carolyn Janet Weeks during his Sophomore year at ASU at at Charismatic Bible Study he was attending on campus. What started as a close friendship eventually became something much more. Curtis Dean Loftin & Carolyn Janet Weeks
Curtis & Carolyn graduated from Appalachian State University on June 1, 1975 with plans to get married six days later on June 7th.
Curtis & Carolyn with Rev. Bobby TaylorIn the fall of 1975, Curtis got his first teaching job at Sherrills Ford Elementary School, teaching 6th Grade Math, 7th Grade Math & Science, and 8th Grade Math, Science, Health & P.E.
Curtis while teaching at Sherrills Ford, 1976
Carolyn became pregnant during this time and gave birth to their first child, Elizabeth Ann Loftin, on September 10, 1976.
Curtis relocated to Catawba Middle School for his second year of teaching, 1976 -1977 and was there for 23 years.
Curtis & Carolyn’s second child, Philip Daniel Loftin, was born April 14, 1978.
Carolyn & Curtis with Beth & Philip, 1979(Below) Summer 1978
(Right) Summer 1979: Curtis age 26
(Below) 1985: Curtis age 32, Carolyn age 33, Beth age 8, Philip age 7
Curtis & Carolyn live in this house at 5149 E. NC 10 Hwy., Catawba, NC
One of the benefits of teaching was having the summers off to enjoy the pool with the family.
Curtis taught 7th and 8th grade math for the 23 years he was at Catawba Middle School. During that time he also taught, Reading, Language Arts, Science and Social Studies. In 1979, after having read the book "D. J.'s Worst Enemy" by Robert Burch, the class wrote a play based on the book and produced a dramatic presentation of the story using slides. Curtis took the class on a field trip to 5 different locations to get the needed photos for the story. "D. J.'s Worst Enemy" by Robert Burch
(Left) Dayne Miller, Curtis and Tera McDaniel
(Right) Dayne Miller, Tim Miller, Mrs. Patty Mauney, Tera McDaniel and Curtis
(Left to Right) Curtis, Layman Mitchell, David Hester, Mack Byers and Angile Roth
Catawba County built two new middle schools in the eastern part of Catawba County in 2000. Catawba Middle School was converted into a 6th Grade school called Catawba Intermediate. The teachers that had been at Catawba Middle were given a choice between River Bend Middle and Mill Creek Middle. Curtis chose to go to River Bend Middle School, across the street from Bunker Hill High School. He was there for six years until he retired at the end of the 2004 - 2005 school year.
During his years of teaching, Curtis was Teacher-of-the-Year on several occasions, including 1994 - 1995. He was chosen as the Claremont Jaycees Outstanding Young Educator, and he received the Seacor Math & Science Award twice. In January 2005, Curtis retired from teaching with 30.5 years. He contracted at that time to finish out the school year and continued working until June 2005.
When Curtis and Carolyn were first married, they were frequently involved in youth-related ministry as a result them both being teachers. While attending ASU, Curtis participated in a Charismatic Bible Study on campus and also had a year of music lessons pertaining to his teaching. Once back in Catawba, the Lord opened a door for him to become Minister of Music in 1977 at Victory Cathedral in Conover.
Victory Cathedral NCCF Praise Team Singing at NCCF
Licenses & Ordinations:
Church Date Type Mathis Chapel Baptist Church June 4, 1972 Ministry License Newton Conover Christian Fellowship Sept 29, 1985 Ministry License Newton Conover Christian Fellowship March 29, 1987 Ordination New Horizon Ministries June 4, 1989 Ordination Word of Life Christian Center Aug 25, 1991 Ordination Healing Springs Church 1992 Ordination Olive Branch Ministries April 3, 1993 Ordination Curtis served as Minister of Music and Psalmist at the following churches and congregations:
Church or Congregation Dates Location Victory Cathedral June 1977 - Jan 1981 Conover, NC Word of Life Christian Center May 1981 - Dec 1982 Newton, NC Newton Conover Christian Fellowship May 1983 - June 1990 Claremont, NC Word of Life Christian Center Oct 1990 - Dec 1991 Conover, NC Olive Branch Congregation April 1992 - Dec 1997 Newton, NC Gates of Praise Congregation August 2001 - Present Lincolnton, NC In the late 1980s, Curtis & Carolyn came to realize that God wanted to restore the relationship between the church and the Jew and they became involved in the Biblical/Jewish Roots Movement. Becoming Christian Zionists, they taught Israeli Folk Dance classes, co-led several Jewish Roots/Messianic home groups, all the while teaching those who would listen about the importance of supporting Israel and the Jewish people.
Curtis & Carolyn started several Israeli Folk Dance troops over the years:
Church or Congregation Dates Location Newton Conover Christian Fellowship 1987 - 1900 Claremont, NC Word of Life Christian Center 1990 - 1991 Conover, NC Olive Branch Congregation 1992 - 1997 Newton, NC Covenant Bible Church 2000 - 2003 Lincolnton, NC Machol Dance Ministry 2003 - Present Lincolnton, NC
Israeli Folk Dance Classes & Conferences:
Church or Congregation Date Location First Methodist Church 2001 Conover, NC Resurrection Family Church 2001 Hickory, NC Young Women of the WORD, Covenant 2001 Lincolnton, NC Practical Applications of Praise & Worship 2001 Lincolnton, NC Flag & Tabret Workshop 2002 Lincolnton, NC Zion Center for Worship & Arts / Dance Camp 2002 Charlotte, NC Zion Center for Worship & Arts / Dance Camp 2003 Charlotte, NC Zion Center for Worship & Arts / Dance Camp 2004 Charlotte, NC First Methodist Church (VBS) 2006 Catawba, NC Zion Center for Worship & Arts / Dance Camp 2007 Charlotte, NC
Teaching an Advanced Class of dancers at the Zion Center for Worship & Arts / Dance Camp in 2003
When Curtis and Carolyn joined Covenant Bible Church in Lincolnton, they also started a Friday Shabbat Home Group that eventually became known as Gates of Praise.
As Leader of Gates of Praise, Curtis is continually trying to lead the congregation to a deeper relationship with Yeshua/Jesus through Praise & Worship, Israeli Folk Dance, observing Shabbat and the Biblical Festivals, as well as teaching and Torah discussion.
(Left) Curtis holding the Lulav & Etrog, part of the Sukkot/Feast of Tabernacles celebration
Curtis & Carolyn had wanted to go to Israel for many years. In October 2005, their dream finally came true. With six of their friends, they joined Barry & Batya Segal, toured all over Israel, and were involved in his Christian Celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem.Their trip, which lasted for two weeks, took them from Joppa and Tel Aviv to Casesarea, Tiberias & the Sea of Galilee - from Qumran and the Dead Sea up to Jerusalem. They even marched in the Jerusalem Day Parade while they were there to show their support for the nation of Israel.
(Left) Curtis in the amphitheatre in Caesarea, Israel
(Right) Curtis & Carolyn on the Mt. of Olives looking toward the Old City area of Jerusalem
Dancing on the Old City walls of Jerusalem at David's Citidal
(Left to Right) Doug & Lynda Williams, Curtis, Greg LilgeVisit the Machol Dance Ministries web site.
Stopping to pose for a photo while visiting Helen, Georgia
(Left to Right) Brad & Beth Loftin Seese, Carolyn & Curtis Loftin
Curtis & Carolyn with their children and grandchildren
Another great benefit of teaching is retiring at the age of 52!
January 2008
Carolyn & Curtis, July 2008
Upon their deaths, Curtis & Carolyn will be buried at Mathis Chapel Baptist Church in Catawba County, next to Curtis' parents. CLICK to see Curtis' Family Tree If you have additional photos of Curtis, please contact me.
