NASHVILLE, Tenn. — John William Loviza, age 84, passed away unexpectedly Sept. 27, 2015.

He was born June 1, 1931, to John Joseph and Mabel Harris Loviza in Vicksburg.

His initial employment was with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg, which sent him on projects throughout North Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Greenland.

He joined Hercules Powder Co. in 1958 as a demonstration blaster. John advanced through successive assignments in Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, New York, West Virginia and Delaware. He was employed in the explosives industry up until the time of his death, spending the past three decades with Hermitage Explosives Corp. of Nashville.

Mr. Loviza was a member of the International Society of Explosives Engineers and The Moles. He was a communicant of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Donelson, Tennessee, for many years.
Besides his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Emily Pierce Loviza, and two sisters.
He is survived by his sons, Bill (Ann Crecelius) Loviza of Joelton, Tennessee, Tom (Carol) Loviza of Midlothian, Virginia, Mike (Mary) Loviza of Bear, Delaware, and a daughter, Alise Loviza of Madison, Tennessee; sisters, Blanche (Tom) Irby of Madison, Alabama, and Myrtle (Bobby) Alvarado of Vicksburg; and a brother, Joe Loviza of Vicksburg; six grandchildren; and special friend Katherine Bryan of Nashville.
Visitation will be Thursday from 3 to 8 p.m. at Phillips-Robinson Funeral Home, 2707 Gallatin Road in Nashville, and Friday for one hour before the service at the funeral home.

Services will be 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, at the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Robert Spickard and Father Phillip Halladay officiating. Interment will follow at Spring Hill Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be grandsons and family friends. Honorary Pallbearers will be the employees of Hermitage Explosives Corp.