Benjamin Rush Loye

AUG. 23, 1927 – OCT. 22, 2015

Benjamin Rush Loye (Ben) was named for a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Loye family lore (as passed to him from his mother) is that Benjamin Rush is an ancestor. So, Ben’s work in politics and government seems natural.

After serving in the U.S. Navy as a hospital corpsman in World War II, in 1948, Ben met and married Bettyjean Phelps. They had one son, Mark. In 1954, the three of them moved from Milwaukee, WI to Denver so that Ben could attend college and law school at the University of Denver. The family lived in Wheat Ridge, and Ben practiced law from his office, nearby. Ben and Betty were always very active in Republican politics. Ben ran campaigns, served as chairman of the County Republican Party and even ran for Congress.

Ben’s unsuccessful campaign for Congress was a stepping stone to his work in the U. S. Department of Labor. He eventually advanced to be the Deputy Chief of Staff for the entire Department. He followed that stint in Washington with a long career as a federal Administrative Law Judge, first in California, and then back home in Colorado. He retired in 2011 at the age of 83.

His great passions were the law, politics, collecting campaign memorabilia, fishing, and, of course, his family. He brought great intelligence, enthusiasm and energy to everything he did.

His wife Betty preceded him in death, but the rest of his surviving family and friends, especially his beloved granddaughters, Elizabeth, Victoria and Mary Kate, will miss him greatly.

Services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, 10/30/15, at St. James Episcopal Church at 8235 W. 44th Avenue in Wheat Ridge with inurnment at 1:30 p.m. at Ft. Logan National Cemetery where his service with the United States Navy will be honored.