Hoyt Oberlee Sloop

Obituary: Kannapolis, NC- Hoyt O. Sloop, age 93, passed away on Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at Best of Care Assisted Living, Kannapolis, NC after a period of declining health. He was born November 7, 1920 in Rowan County, NC, the son of E.A. Sloop and Nokie McGinnis Sloop. Hoyt was a graduate of Catawba College with a double major in mathematics and history. He also received a minor in business administration. He completed his MBA and master's degree in history at the former Appalachian State Teacher's College. Hoyt enlisted in 1942 at the Naval Aviation Cadet Selection Board in Atlanta for officer pilot instruction. He entered the U.S. Navy during World War II and spent the majority of his time in South America. After service he continued with the Naval Reserves and was a member of the Quiet Birdmen (QB) which was a secretive club founded after World War I for male aviators. He was affiliated with the Beaver-Pittman Post 115 of the American Legion and the 40 and 8 organizations for many years. Hoyt was also a member of the V.F.W. Poston-Perkins Post 8989. In 2006 he received the Cross of Military Service, an outgrowth of the Southern Cross of Honor, extended to veterans of World War I, World War II, Korean Conflict, and Vietnam Conflict who were lineal blood descendants of Confederate military personnel. He found time to be active with Cannon Memorial Masonic Lodge #626 for many years. In later years he taught at Cannon High School, later A.L. Brown High School, and also Rowan Technical Institute. In 1959 he became director of Stonewall Jackson School in Cabarrus County where he served for fifteen years until his retirement. Coming out of retirement, he set-up the educational operations at the state High Rise Prison in Salisbury. Hoyt was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Kannapolis, NC where he had served as a Sunday School teacher for the W.J. Bullock Sunday School Class for many years and also was active in various phases of church activities. He was an avid reader enjoying history, westerns, novels, and working crossword puzzles. Woodworking was a great love in his life cutting out patterns for the Crafty Ladies Annual Christmas Bazaar. Fishing also played another important part of his life especially at Lake Norman, and deep-sea fishing. In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by three brothers. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, December 15, 2013 at Whitley's Funeral Home Main Chapel, Kannapolis, NC officiated by Rev. Kirk Tutterow. Burial will follow at Carolina Memorial Park, Kannapolis, NC with military rites conducted by the Cabarrus County Veterans Honor Guard. The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 2:00 P.M. Sunday at the funeral home prior to the service. Survivors include his wife of 71 years, Margaret Hudson Sloop; a son, Curtis Sloop of Charlotte, NC; his daughters, Debbie (Jim) Brown of Charleston, SC and Mindy (Milton) Martin of Charlotte, NC; his grandchildren, Bradley Sloop, Jim (Carrie) Brown, Tom Brown, Elizabeth (Eric) Dewar; and four great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081. On-line condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.
Visitation: 12:30 to 2:00 PM Sunday December 15, 2013 Whitley's Funeral Home

Service: 2:00 PM Sunday December 15, 2013 Whitley's Funeral Home

Interment: Carolina Memorial park