Visitation for Major Loy C. Vandiver, 84, will be at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston, LA, 4-6 pm, Saturday, May 20, 2006. Burial will be in Fayetteville, AR, Monday, May 22, officiating by Dr. Larry Grubbs of Farmerville, LA. Born to Leroy and Velma Vandiver in San Antonio, TX, on October 10, 1921, Loy died peacefully in his sleep on May 17 in Ruston, where he lived for the last 5 years. He had been a longtime resident of Fayetteville, AR. Loy was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary Katherine Howell Vandiver of Fayetteville; sister, Anna Dean Morley of Houston, and son-in-law, Charles Bloxom of Ruston. He is survived by his daughters, Patricia Katherine Bloxom of Ruston and Linda Carol Combs and husband Allen of Fayetteville; his son, Loy Vandiver, Jr., and wife Linda of Kerns, Utah; and his brother, Glen Vandiver and wife Barbara of Mesa, Arizona; along with 8 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers will be Jimmy Howard, Stanley Page, Trey Vandiver, Jerry Vandiver, Glen Vandiver, Chris Williams, Walt Smith, and Jerry Fletcher. A fighter pilot during World War II, Loy began his Air Force career in 1943 in Germany with the 374th Fighter Squadron, flying the P47D. In May 1944 he switched to the P51C ¨Mustang. He completed his tour in 1944 with one aerial victory and one enemy aircraft damaged on the ground. In peacetime he trained new pilots in the B25 and later joined the 81st Air Rescue Squadron in Sembach, Germany, flying an SA16. Major Vandiver retired from the Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base in 1962. Memorials may be sent to the Aviation and Military Museum of Louisiana, P. O. Box 13113, Monroe, LA 71213, or to the charity of one≠s choice.