ALBANY – Billy V. "Bill" Lofton, age 75, rural Albany, went to be with The Lord Sunday morning at Ball Memorial Hospital following an extended illness. Born in Matthews, MO, he was raised in Muncie. Bill was a plumber for over 30 years for Paul Craw Plumbing before retiring in 1997. Bill attended North Delaware Baptist Church. He enjoyed horseback riding and car racing and raised goats, cows, and buffalo.

Survivors include his wife of 15 years, Betty Lofton; a son: William Lofton (fiancé: Sarita), Muncie; 2 daughters: Debbie Kirk, Muncie, and Julie Ruddick (husband: James), Albany; a step-son: James Marlow (wife: Jama), Modoc; 2 step-daughters: Debbie Clements, Muncie, and Cindy Jessup (husband: Gary), Pendleton; a sister: Margaret Schubert (husband: Jerry), Antioch, CA, and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his first wife, Vivian Lofton, his parents: Albert L. & Lucille Lofton, and a brother: Harold Lofton.

Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 22, 2010, at Meacham Funeral Service, Albany, with burial following at Gardens of Memory Cemetery, Muncie.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday from 4 until 8 p.m. and one hour prior to the service on Friday at the funeral home.

The family prefers memorials to American Heart Association or American Lung Association.