Wes Loughead, 70, of Unionville, Missouri, passed away at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday, September 4, 2021, after suffering the effects of Covid-19.
Wesley Jay Loughead was born in Columbia, Missouri, on December 5, 1950, the son of Ed and Idella (Connell) Loughead, who preceded him in death. He lived most of his younger years in Dale, Indiana, and then moved with his family to Unionville, Missouri, during his junior year in high school. Wes graduated from Unionville High School in 1969 where he was active in athletics. He attended college briefly before enlisting in the United States Army where he served from 1975-1978, most of which was in Germany. He returned to Unionville after his honorable discharge and worked at Ben Franklin until opening the Scoreboard restaurant in 1984. He owned and operated the Scoreboard until retiring in 2012.
Wes followed all kinds of sports, but his special interest was girls’ basketball and softball. He was an active coach for many years often forming a team when they were in elementary age and staying with them until high school graduation. Even though these were traveling teams, Wes’ efforts contributed to the success of the girls’ softball program at Putnam County High School. He was tireless in stressing the fundamentals of basketball and softball for all his Raider teams. After leaving active coaching Wes continued to follow girls’ basketball, especially in the Springfield, Missouri, area, where he believed they played especially good basketball. Wes also enjoyed playing pool and loved a good game of spades.
Wes Loughead is survived by two brothers, Marty (Perri) Loughead of Osage Beach, Missouri, and Kent “Bernie” (Carol) Loughead of Unionville, Missouri. Several nieces and nephews survive as well as an uncle, Jr. (Rosamond) Connell.
A celebration of Wes’ life will take place at Playle & Collins Family Funeral Home in Unionville, Missouri, at 11:00 am Saturday, September 11, 2021. There will be no visitation. Guests and friends are encouraged to wear the apparel of their favorited sports team and, in honor Wes who always wore shorts, guests are welcome to wear shorts.
Memorials are suggested in lieu of flowers to a scholarship fund to be established at Putnam County High School for a girl athlete pursing sports in college. Checks should be made to the Wes Loughead Scholarship Fund. These may be entrusted with Playle & Collins Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th, Unionville, MO, 63565.