Paul Loraine Loden

Paul Loraine Loden, 92, passed away in Richmond, Virginia, on July 10, 2023, of complications from lymphoma. Paul achieved a remarkable career for someone coming from poverty-stricken East Texas during the Depression. Born in Redwater, Texas, in 1931, he joined the Army and shipped away to Japan during the post-World War II Occupation years. He received an officer's commission in the Army Reserves and worked as a courier of top-secret documents at GHQ, where the former Supreme Allied Commander and now Commander in the Far East General Douglas MacArthur and his staff received them. After a few years' courtship, he married Choko Kazama of Tokyo and had two children. Now all U.S. citizens, the family moved for Paul's federal-service postings to Fort Bliss, Texas; the Presidio, San Francisco; Camp Zama, Japan; and Fort Lee, Virginia. Paul retired from federal service and continued work on computer programming with a contractor into the 1990s. His final retirement was in North Chesterfield, where he was surrounded by his family and enjoyed good health for many years. He maintained a membership with Shriners ACCA Temple and liked taking care of his classic Ford truck.

Paul was a most beloved and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He took care of Choko during the COVID pandemic, as she lapsed into dementia and passed away in 2021. He is survived by his daughter, Frances (Joel Loree) of Berkeley, California; son, Ronald (Betty Jo Loden) of Chesterfield, and their daughter, Chelsey of Virginia Beach, and her daughter, Natalia; Betty Jo's daughter, Barbara Stells Armentrout, her husband, John Armentrout, and their children, Liam, Caroline, and Annabelle, of Chesterfield. We will miss you so much, Paul!

Paul's remains will be interred alongside his beloved Choko at Sunset Memorial Park in Chester. Services are private. Condolences may be registered at jtmorriss.com.