ASHLAND — RADM Charles Ray Loar, U.S. Navy (Ret), 74, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010.

He was born on Dec. 8, 1935, in Ashland, Ky., to Lige and Lillian Loar, who preceded him in death. Survivors include his wife, Charlotte Hough Loar; son, Charles David Loar (Wendy) of Jacksonville, Fla.; daughters, Karen Loar Ryan (Rusty) of Moody, Ala., Lisa K. Battles of Birmingham, Ala., and Tami K. Webb (Byron) of Moody; grandchildren, Kristen Loar Francola (Nicholas) of Virginia Beach, Va., Josie and David Ray Loar of Jacksonville, Jessica and Melissa Ryan of Moody,  J. Logan and Benjamin A. Webb of Moody, and Taylor and Madison Battles of Birmingham, Ala.; and great-grandsons, Spencer and Connor Francola of Virginia Beach. He is also survived by his sister, Mary S. Farley and nephew, Bill Farley (Lisa) and stepfather-in-law, James O. Goff of Millbrook, Ala.  

After enlisting in the Navy in 1953 and following an initial tour, he returned to Ashland and drilled with the Naval Reserves. He attended Marshall College in Huntington, W.Va., and received his bachelors in business administration with a major in accounting and a minor in economics. His first employment in the healthcare field was as business manager of King’s Daughter’s Hospital in Ashland, Ky. In 1960, he relocated to Gainesville, Fla., where he served as assistant director of the University of Florida Hospital and Clinics. While at the University of Florida, Mr. Loar completed the requirements for his Masters in Business Administration with a dual major in management and economics. In 1965, he was recruited to the Baptist Health Care System in Birmingham, where they were completing construction of two hospitals.

He continued his Navy Reserve affiliation and in 1965 was commissioned as an ensign, Medical Service Corps. He had attained the enlisted grade of yeoman first class when commissioned. Mr. Loar was executive vice president and administrator of the Baptist Medical Center-Princeton from 1965 until 1972. At that time, he resigned from the Baptist Health System to return to active duty with the Navy. He was a lieutenant at that time. Mr. Loar’s assignments following his return to the Navy included the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., Bureau of Medicine & Surgery, Navy Department, Washington, D.C. executive officer, Naval Hospital Orlando, Fla., Naval Hospital Oakland, Calif., Medical Service Corps Representative to the Career Development Division, Bureau of Medical & Surgery, Navy Department, Washington, D.C.; Commanding Officer, Naval Hospital, Corpus Christi Texas; Commanding Officer, Naval Hospital, Bethesda, MD. During this tour, Captain Loar was selected for Flag Rank as Rear Admiral. He then served as Commander, Navy Medical Command, Mid-Atlantic Region, Norfolk, Va. Then he served on the staff of the Commander in Chief, United States Navy, Atlantic Fleet before returning to Washington to be the Director, Medical Service Corps and Assistant Chief, Healthcare Operations, Bureau of Medicine & Surgery, responsible for all Navy Medical facilities worldwide. He had the distinction of being the first fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives in the Navy and very instrumental in affiliating members of the Navy Medical Service with that professional healthcare society. His efforts resulted in significant enhancements of the professional skills, talents and opportunities for members of that corp. In later years, the sister services, Army and Air Force followed Admiral Loar’s example. In recognition of Admiral Loar’s contribution to the field of healthcare administration, the ACHE established the Charles Loar Annual Literary award. He retired from the Navy in July, 1993. He subsequently served as Chief Operating Officer, Columbia Hospital for Women and Infants, Washington, D.C.; Vice-President, Government Relations Sierra Military Health Services, Baltimore, Md.; and finally as Vice-President Professional Relations and Acquisition, CRA Associates, Newington, Va. Admiral Loar retired from active workforce in the summer of 2000 and returned to Birmingham.

He was a loving and devoted person to all, and was a true and faithful servant to the Lord. He loved his church, Mountain Chapel UMC, served on the Leadership Team and as a deacon. He was most rewarded when he was able to help others.  He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Funeral service will be Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010 at Mountain Chapel United Methodist Church with visitation from 2 to 3 p.m. and services at 3 p.m. Pastor Tom Parrish will be officiating. Burial will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mountain Chapel United Church, 2541 Rocky Ridge Road, Birmingham, AL 35243; The Alabama Foundation for Oncology, P.O. Box 660833, Birmingham, AL 35266; or Chris Sidle Foundation, 1987 Ves Trace Circle, Birmingham, AL 35216.