Loren Dale Oakes, 81, of Franklin Furnace, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at his home after taking one last ride around his family farm. He was born on May 10, 1942, in Wheelersburg, a son of the late Lowell Henry and Anna Kathleen Briggs Oakes. In 1967, Loren married Joanne, the love of his life. They were married for 56 years and raised four children on the Oakes Family Farm in Franklin Furnace. He farmed side by side with his father, Lowell, and then with his wife and children as their family grew. The family still lives on their beautiful farm where they continue to cherish the land and love working together.
Loren was loved by his family as a dedicated farmer, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, but he was known by the community in many other capacities. He graduated from Green High School in 1960 and was an original member of the Green Volunteer Fire Department, where he served side by side with his father and many friends whom he cherished throughout his life. He also worked as a school bus driver for the Green Local Schools in the early 1970s. Loren then worked as a rural mail carrier in Franklin Furnace for 35 years.
Loren was a steadfast and faithful member of St. John Lutheran Church where he served in many roles, including church council, choir, and as the cemetery sexton. He enjoyed singing with the barbershop quartet and attending church nearly every Sunday of his life. He assisted with the construction of the new church building in 1968, as well as designing the church parsonage and assisting with the church annex built in 2016. Finally, Loren was a very active member of the Porter Township Grange, he was a member of the Scioto County Farm Bureau, and he was a leader of the Hog Raiders 4-H Club.
Loren exemplified Christian values for his family and all those who knew him. He and his beloved wife, Joanne M. Rase Oakes, set a shining example of what a marriage should be to their four children, Amy Lynn (Michael) Fraulini and Kelly Ann (Jim) Skipworth of Franklin Furnace, Brian Dale (Shelly) Oakes of Wheelersburg, and Brett Alan (Lori) Oakes of Lucasville; nine grandchildren, Maria Fraulini, Matthew Fraulini, Katherine Skipworth, Emily Skipworth, Aaron (Hannah) Akers, Cassie Akers, Tyler (Taylor) Adams, Luke Oakes and Laura Oakes; and four great-grandchildren, Mia Adams, Elias Akers, Scarlett Wilson and Sienna Wilson.
In addition to his parents, Loren was also preceded in death by his sister, Margaret Anne Maier, and her husband, the Rev. Martin E. Maier; his maternal grandparents, Asa “Kline” and Edna Liston Briggs; and paternal grandparents, John and Margaret Staker Oakes.
Funeral services will be held at St. John Lutheran Church on Sunday at 2 P.M. with Rev. Brent Cavendish officiating and interment in St. John Cemetery. Members of the Green Volunteer Fire Department will serve as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends at the Ralph F. Scott Funeral Home in Portsmouth on Saturday from 4 to 7 P.M. and one hour before services on Sunday at the church.
Contributions in Loren’s memory may be made to the St. John Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 5600 Jr. Furnace-Powellsville Rd., Franklin Furnace, OH 45629.
