In Loving Memory of Aline Carolyn Loud

1935 - 2025

With tender hearts and cherished memories, the family of Aline Carolyn Loud announces her peaceful passing on June 10, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas, at the age of 89. A woman of remarkable intellect, quiet strength, enduring faith, and boundless love, Aline lived a life that echoed with purpose, wisdom, and devotion. She will be remembered not only for the depth of her convictions but also for the grace and steadiness with which she guided the lives of those she held most dear.

Born on September 25, 1935, in Erie, Pennsylvania, Aline was the beloved daughter of Frank A. Compton and Ruth C. Disterdick-Compton. She was raised in a warm and loving home alongside her brother, Frank Compton, where the values of faith, discipline, and education were instilled from an early age. Rooted in the Presbyterian tradition, Aline's spiritual journey would eventually grow into a deep and personal non-denominational Christian faith—one that would become the foundation of her life's mission.

Aline's brilliance was evident early on. She graduated from Lawrence Park High School in Erie, and continued her academic pursuits at Purdue University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry—an impressive feat at a time when few women entered the sciences. Upon graduating, she began a career as a chemist at the prestigious research and consulting firm Arthur D. Little, where she applied her sharp mind and keen attention to detail.

But it was at Purdue, not in a laboratory, where fate had one of its most serendipitous moments in store. While working as a waitress in 1955, Aline accidentally spilled a cup of coffee on a young man named William Loud. From that small, messy moment sprang their partnership and love story. The two were married in 1957 and together they raised two children, Carol and Mark, in the scenic town of Concord, Massachusetts.

Though the marriage came to a close in 1972, Aline's strength and purpose only deepened. She built a life grounded in service, becoming a missionary in Guayaquil, Ecuador, from 1984 to 1993. Her time there was not only a testament to her devotion to spreading the message of faith, but also to her boundless compassion for others. She continued her ministry upon returning to the United States, serving with Greater Grace World Outreach and hosting the Saturday Morning Bible Club, where she joyfully taught both adults and children with humility and wisdom.

In 2017, Aline relocated to Texas to be closer to her children. Her son, Mark, built her a charming little home on his property, and her daughter, Carol, lovingly cared for her through her later years. Though her world grew smaller with age, her heart remained full—especially when surrounded by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom she adored.

Aline was a remarkable mother—loving, protective, strict at moments but always principled. She held her children to a very high standard, not out of harshness but out of an abiding desire to see them grow into resilient, morally upright, and self-reliant individuals. Her son, Mark, lovingly described her as "the best mom a person could have," while her daughter, Carol, fondly remembered their childhood games—how their mother never simply let them win, but rather used each moment as an opportunity to teach persistence, honesty, and grace in both victory and defeat.

Summers were filled with memories of swimming at White Pond, and winters were spent skating across its frozen surface—simple joys that Aline cherished with her children. She insisted on limited television—just two hours a week—believing in active lives, meaningful conversation, and the building of strong character. She didn't merely raise her children; she shaped them, with quiet resolve, unwavering patience, and a deep sense of duty to their well-being.

Later in life, she took that same devotion and poured it into her role as a grandmother. Her grandchildren remember the same fairness, the same gentle firmness, and the same sense of wonder she brought to every interaction. One grandchild fondly recalled how Grandma never let her win a game without earning it—proof that her values of perseverance and integrity were passed down across generations.

Aline leaves behind a legacy of love and strength in her devoted family: her son, Mark Loud and his wife Karla; her daughter, Carol Burley; and her grandchildren, Jeff Loud and his wife Katie, Angela Fair and her husband Brady, Josh Burley, and Matt Martinson and his wife Bri. She also leaves behind three great-grandchildren who brought immense joy to her final years: Hannah, Grant, and Aurora. She is preceded in death by her beloved parents, Frank and Ruth Compton, who no doubt welcomed her home with open arms.

A graveside service to celebrate the beautiful and faith-filled life of Aline Carolyn Loud will be held on Monday, June 16, 2025, at 10:00 AM at Azleland Cemetery in Azle, Texas.

Though she has stepped from this life into the next, the values Aline lived by—the strength of her character, the depth of her love, and the quiet but powerful way she shaped the lives of her children and grandchildren—will remain her eternal legacy. She lived not for praise, but for purpose. And in doing so, she leaves behind a family that is better, stronger, and deeply blessed because of her.