James Gary Loden

James Gary Loden passed away March 27, 2024, in Lubbock, TX, surrounded by his family. He was born February 28, 1946, to James and Maurine (Case) Loden in Dallas, TX. He graduated from Dallas South Oak Cliff High School. Gary grew up in a loving home where family and faith were paramount.  

He earned a basketball scholarship to attend Tyler Junior College, and then moved on to Texas Tech University where he was an active member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and graduated with a degree in Business Marketing in 1968. He met his future wife, Sally Halley, at Texas Tech, and they married on August 16, 1969.

After living in Dallas for four years, the couple returned to Lubbock. Gary had a variety of business experiences including paper sales and advertising in Dallas as well as HVAC manufacturers' representative and commercial Controls business in Lubbock. Gary began working for Control Technologies, Inc. in 1999 and took over ownership in 2002.

Gary valued the opportunity to serve others. He shared his time and talent generously with his church, the Lubbock community, his business, and its affiliations. At St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, he was a Vestry member and Senior Warden. He served as a coach as well as a board member for MOB youth basketball, and for years he sponsored competitive youth basketball teams composed of players from the city of Lubbock and its surrounding communities. Gary served Texas Tech as a Chancellor’s Council member in 2002, 2003, and again in 2010. He supported the Lubbock High School Booster Club as vice president and president from 1993-1995. Gary served on Lubbock's Parks and Recreation Board and was Vice Chairman 2001-02. For six years he served on the Executive Board of Directors, for InsideIQ, a global building automation alliance, facilitating collaboration between independently owned companies.

Gary will be remembered as a loving, devoted husband and father and an honest and fair-minded businessman. Gary was a devoted Christian and dedicated member of his church community.  His heart was huge, and he shared it. His kindness and generosity were extended to many. He was both, fun and funny. He loved people, basketball, his grandchildren, and Texas Tech University sports.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, James Nathan and Maurine Faye Loden. Those left to cherish his many memories are his wife of 54 years, Sally, sons Josh and wife Jackie Loden and their children, Noah and Rachel, of San Antonio, TX, and Jake and wife Callie Loden and their children, Piper and Nellie of Hockley, TX, and his sister Kay Todd of Simonton, TX, as well as a multitude of extended family and close friends who loved him.

The family of James Gary Loden will honor and celebrate his life with a memorial celebration Monday, April 8, 2024, at 3:00PM, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, with Rev. Justin Gibson officiating.

Upon the request of the family, in lieu of flowers and in honor of Gary, please donate to the  St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church music program, https://ststephens-lubbock.org/ or to a charity of your choice.