Pedro "Pete" Loyola Jr.

Pedro “Pete” Loyola Jr. passed away on the 24th of July, just two days before his 90th birthday, in Washington, Utah.  He was born July 26, 1933, in Dividend, Utah, the seventh of eleven children born to Pedro and Jesus Garcia Loyola of Jalisco, Mexico.

The favorite memories of his life were of the time spent growing up in the dusty mining camp, now a ghost town, innocent of poverty and discrimination. When he was eleven, the family moved to Salt Lake City. After graduating from Granite High in 1951, Pete joined the Army and served in Germany. Employed by United Airlines, he met a pretty Frontier Airlines stewardess, Jacqueline Jacobson, at the SLC airport in 1956. They married and are the parents of four children.

Transferred by United from SLC to PHL to SFO, Pete was a Customer Service Supervisor and served as public relations liaison on United 747s. He retired in 1990 after 36 years with United. Pete then enjoyed selling men’s suits part-time at Nordstrom. More than one customer came in just to replace a button on a sport coat and left with a new suit and a full complement of perfectly coordinated shirts and ties. 

Any day Notre Dame won was a good day. Retirement meant spending hours trimming lawn and roses in his yard where he hosted his Mexican parties. His idea of a perfect vacation was a first-class flight on a United jumbo to Hawaii. Other travels include Machu Picchu, the beaches of Normandy, and the Loyola Basilica in Spain.

He was beloved by his five grandchildren who called him “Pocky”. Only in his arms would a colicky baby quiet and slumber.

Pete is survived by his wife, Jackie; children, Derick (Lidia), Lisa, Ann (Wood), Todd; grandchildren, Whitney (Nick), Callie, and Christian Olpin; Cole and Hanna Palmer; great-grandchild, Juliet Rocci; brother, Vern (Darline) and sister, Liz Avila. 

We’re grateful to the Ovation Assisted Living staff for the loving care and attention provided to him these past few months.

Celebration of life will be determined at a later date.

Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George, Utah, (435) 673-2454.

Friends and family are invited to sign Pete’s online guest book at www.spilsburymortuary.com.