The Rev. Eugene J. Loughran Jr.'s Obituary
The Rev. Eugene J. Loughran Jr., a retired Episcopal priest from Fort Myers, Florida, who served with devotion in the Diocese of Southwest Florida, passed away peacefully July 1, 2026, at the age of 85. He is survived by his loving daughter, Stephanie Slater.
A memorial service celebrating Father Gene’s life will be held July 16, 2026, 10 a.m., at Iona-Hope Episcopal Church, Fort Myers, Florida. In honor of his life and the love he shared, the family invites those wishing to give to consider making a charitable donation to the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida, in lieu of flowers. You may also choose to honor his memory by volunteering your time to support hospice patients and families in your community.
Father Gene was born October 20, 1940, in Salem, New Jersey. He graduated from Hobart College in Geneva, New York, in 1962 with a bachelor's degree in liberal arts. He earned his master of divinity from Philadelphia Divinity School and entered ordained ministry as an Episcopal priest in 1965.
Throughout his long ministry, Father Gene served Calvary in Flemington, New Jersey; St. Paul’s in Monongahela, Pennsylvania; St. Barnabas in Brackenridge, Pennsylvania; St. Paul’s in Mount Vernon, Ohio; and St. John the Divine in Ruskin, Florida. After retiring in 2000, he continued to serve as a supply priest at Iona-Hope in Fort Myers, Florida, and at various other congregations in the surrounding community.
Father Gene was a loving and compassionate pastor, beloved by his various congregations and fellow clergy. Even after retirement, he remained closely connected within the Southwest Diocese of Florida. He was quick to forgive, lighthearted, and known for his warm smile. A wanderlust at heart, he and his wife Elizabeth tucked away savings for the many trips they took around the world after his retirement.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene Sr. and Grace (Sharpe) Loughran, and by his wife Elizabeth (Arnold) Loughran. He is survived by his daughter Stephanie (Loughran) Slater of Asheville, North Carolina; granddaughter Brittany “Louisa” Trusso and great-grandson Micah Lambeth of Arden, North Carolina; and grandson Aleksandr Plocharczyk of Chesapeake, Virginia.
A private family ceremony for the interment of ashes will take place July 16, 2026, at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens, Fort Myers, Florida. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.
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