Woman Who Touched Lives At Fort Bliss Honored Friday

A woman who touched many lives was honored Friday at Fort Bliss.

Carmen Loya, a foster grandparent on post, was hit and killed by a dump truck earlier in June. In a ceremony Friday, a chorus of kids’ voices sang in memory of a woman who made a big impact on base.

71-year-old Loya died on June 1st when she was hit by a dump truck that was backing up near Radford and Nashville. She was on her way to the post’s child development center when she was killed.

“We want to put an everlasting dedication to Carmen and what she did for us at Fort Bliss,” said Colonel Joe Simonelli, who added he couldn’t be happier with the memorial.

And Loya’s sister Lillian says Carmen, who lived with her and was without children of her own, probably couldn’t be happier as she looks down from heaven. “She was a great person,” said Lillian in Spanish.

The memorial included a statue of bronze – for a woman with a heart of gold.

City officials say the driver who hit Loya was suspended from work five times for driving violations in the 80s and 90s. However, no charges have been filed.