Loren Becker

Loren L. Becker of Harrells, North Carolina and of Luray, Virginia, passed away at Bladen County Hospital on Saturday, May 25, 2013 at the age of 74. He is preceded in death by his parents, Lyle and Frances (Taylor) Becker, and sisters, Doris Schildaver, Delores Kelly and Marie Leavitt.
Loren is survived by his loving wife, Diane Becker of the home; three sons, James Loren Becker of Maryland, Jeffery Allen Becker of Ireland, and Adam McCaa of Virginia; two daughters, Christina Greaver of Virginia and Cheryl Shifflett of Kentucky and a brother, Larry Gene Becker of North Carolina. He is lovingly remembered by his grandchildren: Danielle, Brandon, Dustin, Nick, Kevin, Brittany, Kyle, Katee Cole, Natalia, Karen, Jordan, and Brayan, and one great grandchild James.
Loren was born in Gordon, Nebraska in 1939. He graduated from Gordon High School and went on to earn a Bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama and a Master's degree from the University of Southern California. He served 27 years in the United States Army, acheiving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and receiving the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service, and other medals. His tour of duty also included two tours in Vietnam.
Loren first and foremost enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He loved to fly helicopters, work on cars and other projects, Nebraska football, having coffee in the mornings, watching sunsets in the evenings at the lake house, listening to Elvis, Roy Orbison, Neil Diamond, and other country music and he loved his dog Tiesha. Loren also enjoyed trying to find a way to stop squirrels from eating from his birdfeeder, dressing up and scaring middle and high school kids on Halloween who trick or treated at his house, sending back food at restaurants, collecting golf clubs and using trees to test their durability, watching Clint Eastwood and other old Westerns, rooting for any team playing the Redskins, and shopping at Lowes.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. at Bladen-Gaskins Funeral Home. A service will be held in the Chapel at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be held at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC at a later time.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to support prostate cancer research at The Duke Cancer Institute, 512 S. Mangum St., Suite 400, Durham, NC 27701 or online at www.cancer.duke.edu .