On Dec. 16, 2013, Sandy Lohman passed gently away at 90 while resting at Pine Ridge Assisted Living Facility for the last year. A more than 30-year resident of Pagosa Springs, he loved the wonderful friendships he developed there over the years and the eternal beauty of the surrounding Rocky Mountains.
Sandy was born to Army parents and spent his childhood moving from Texas to California, Panama and the Philippines. Summers were spent working as a wrangler on a family ranch in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
He attended New Mexico Military Institute where he starred in marksmanship, fencing, boxing and equestrian pursuits.
Graduating at the onset of World War II, he was commissioned at 18 as the youngest pilot in the Army Air Force. During that war, he flew numerous bomber missions in the China-Burma-India Theater and received multiple awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism in combat.
After the war, he attended Portuguese Language School in preparation for multiple diplomatic tours in Brazil and the Azores. His wife, Benny, joined him at language school and became a vital part of his success, while their three sons, Chuck, Ric and Chip, were treated to multiple assignments in exotic Rio de Janeiro. While on active duty, Sandy loved the challenge of defeating par on as many golf courses as possible.
He regularly competed in the “Championship Flight” in tournaments. His golf exploits were only matched by ukelele solos accompanied by songs about some little grass hut in Hilo, Hawaii.
He retired as the Commanding Officer of Denver’s Lowry Air Force Base after a distinguished Air Force career. A warrior in his youth, a diplomat as an adult, and a loyal husband and friend to Benny throughout 65 years of marriage, he will be well remembered and loved by all who were fortunate enough to know him. He was an active member of the Restoration Fellowship Church where a memorial service is planned on Sunday the 22nd of December at 4 in the afternoon.
