John William Loviza, Nashville, Tenn., passed away Sept. 27, 2015. He was 84 years old.

He was born June 1, 1931, to John Joseph and Mabel Harris Loviza in Vicksburg, Miss. His initial employment with the Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg sent him on a number of 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. 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 for many years.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Emily Pierce Loviza; his parents, and two sisters. He is survived by his sons, Bill (Ann Crecelius) Loviza of Joelton, Tenn., Tom (Carol) Loviza of Midlothian, Va., Mike (Mary) Loviza of Bear, Del., and daughter, Alise Loviza of Madison, Tenn.; sisters, Blanche (Tom) Irby of Madison, Ala., Myrtle (Bobby) Alvarado of Vicksburg, Miss., and brother, Joe Loviza of Vicksburg, Miss.; six grandchildren and special friend Katherine Bryan of Nashville.

Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday Oct. 1 at Phillips-Robinson Funeral Home, 2707 Gallatin Road. The service will be held at 10 a.m. Oct. 2 at the funeral, with one hour of visitation prior to the service. Rev. Robert Spickard and Father Phillip Halladay officiating. 

Interment to follow at Spring Hill Cemetery. Active Pallbearers will be grandsons and family friends. Honorary Pallbearers will be employees of Hermitage Explosives Corp.