Mary Ruth Forbes Loop

Mary “Ruth” Forbes Loop died peacefully after a lengthy illness at St. Catherine’s Laboure Manor on November 25, 2010. She was born in Jacksonville, FL on July 14, 1929, the daughter of the late Leon Edgar Forbes and the late Mary Eloyce Mayo Forbes. She graduated from Andrew Jackson High School, class of 1947, and Florida State College for Women (FSU) in 1951, where she was a member of Phi Mu sorority.

Ruth married Carl B. Loop, Jr. in 1951 and they shared a wonderful life together for 59 years. She taught and substituted in the public school system for many years at Beulah Beele Elementary School and Fishweir Elementary School and then taught at Riverside Presbyterian Day School for nine years as the Reading Specialist. Carl started and the built the family business, Loop’s Nursery and Greenhouses, Inc. with the love and support of Ruth while she taught school. After retiring from teaching, she represented the Moffitt Photography Studio to the Jacksonville area and was honored as the outstanding salesperson for the company.

Ruth and Carl were both very active at First Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School and helped with the primary children’s choir for several years. They later joined Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church where she enjoyed singing in the choir. Ruth was very active in her community, serving on the board of the Salvation Army, Friends of the JU Library, a member of The Symphony Guild, and a member of The Laurel Garden Circle.

She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who made friends easily and was known by many for her infectious laugh and sense of humor. Ruth loved to travel, and she and Carl saw the world together with colleagues and close friends from Farm Bureau Federation. Her family came first, and they were always a tremendous source of pride for her.

She is survived by her dedicated and loving husband, Carl, her three children, Carol Anne Loop Searle (Marv), David Wayne Loop (Dee), and Jane Loop Pomar (Gil); eight grandchildren; Ann Leighton Loop, Elizabeth Mayo Loop, Mariah Wilson Loop, Stuart Forbes Searle (MacKenzie), Carl Spencer Searle, Gilbert James Pomar IV, David Fee Pomar, and Anne Arden Pomar; two sisters, Barbara Forbes Malotke (Ron) and Elizabeth “Libba” Forbes McKinnon, and a nephew Tom Asbury (Jennifer). She is also survived by her Aunt Lucille Collins (Johnny) and Uncle Wayne Mayo (Jo) and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff and caregivers at St. Catherine’s Laboure Manor for their love and support. Memorial contributions may be made to Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church and The Salvation Army.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 2nd at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church.

Arrangements are by Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 4115 Hendricks Avenue.