Timothy Loomis

Timothy F. Loomis, 58, was born March 25, 1954 in Wichita Falls, Texas, to Robert and Joan Loomis. Tim did many things in his life as his interests were wide and varied.

Tim knew no stranger; everyone was a friend in waiting. Tim was a lifetime member of the United States Fencing Association, National Rifle Association, Disabled American Veterans and the Amateur Trapshooting Association.

Tim graduated from Biloxi High School, Miss., in 1973 where he participated in football, swimming, diving, golf and bowling. After graduating, he joined the U.S. Air Force on Dec. 7, 1973, attending basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Tim continued his job training at Sheppard AFB, Texas.

While at Sheppard, Tim was the base champion in swimming, diving and table pool. Tim received orders for Keesler AFB, Miss., near his home of Biloxi in February 1975. In October 1975, Tim met his wife, Janet, at fencing practice on base Tuesday night. They went out on a Thursday night, were engaged Friday night and were married three weeks from that Sunday on Nov. 16, 1975.

Tim's duty stations include Keesler AFB and Offutt AFB, Neb., while in the Air Force. Tim held numerous patents for communications equipment while serving in the Air Force. Tim enlisted into the Army on Dec. 7, 1979, and was sworn in by his wife Janet, an Air Force officer. He served with the 464th Army Boat Transportation Unit at Alexandria, Va.

His final assignment was at Gowen Field Army Reserve Unit in Boise in communications. Tim spent 20 years in the military -- six with the Air Force and 14 years in the Army Reserve. Tim spent two months on temporary duty assignment in Vietnam in 1975. In 1991, Tim was activated for six months during Desert Storm and spent that time at Camp Parks, Calif.

In 1983, Tim earned an associate's degree from Northern Virginia Community College. In 1984, Tim participated in trap shooting while attending George Mason University. In 1988, the family moved from Illinois to Idaho.

Tim has been involved in Olympic fencing since 1975 and was invited to the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympics as an official armourer. He was ranked 4th as an armourer in the country and became known as Ye Olde Armourer in 2000. He repaired the fencing equipment used by Olympic competitors and lower tournaments.

During his 30 plus years of involvement in the fencing community, Tim made many friends and was known as a problem solver, besides being known as that "Crazy Armourer Guy." Tim was known for his loud voice, crazy beard and hair and how quickly he could diagnose and repair weapons. It is difficult to sum up the life of a man who lived life to the fullest and believed in spending life with the ones he loved.

Tim is survived by his wife, Janet of Mountain Home; Nate (Laken, Ryder, Ruby, Gunnar) of Mountain Home; Thaddeus (Audrey Barrett) of Mountain Home; Adelia (Greg Imhof) of Fort Campbell, Ky.; Gregory (Laura) of Fort Campbell, Ky.; Luke of Twin Falls, Idaho; Jennifer (Kevin Parker) of Mountain Home; Hannah (Eric Weiss, Liam) of Moscow, Idaho; Rose of Mountain Home; and Barbara of Mountain Home. Also surviving him include his mother, Joan Loomis of Biloxi, Miss., and his siblings, Patricia Higginbotham of Ocean Springs, Miss.; Michael Loomis of Virginia Beach, Va. and Robert (Steve) Loomis of Tuscon, Ariz.

Tim was preceded in death by his father, Robert Loomis, his son, Timothy F. Loomis II, and nephew Larry Higginbotham.

Tim died April 17, 2012, in Boise, surrounded by family and friends.

Funeral services were held on Monday, April 23, 2012, at Faith Lutheran Church, and burial with military honors followed at Glenn Rest Cemetery in Glenns Ferry. Arrangements were under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.