Lloyd Robert Enix

Lloyd Robert Enix, Jr. passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, October 24, 2021 surrounded by loved ones.  He was born on November 9, 1949, in Detroit, Michigan, which is where he spent his childhood and young adult life.  He graduated from Eastern Michigan with a Business Management degree while serving in the Air National Guard.  His intelligence and hard work paid off and he eventually earned a job at Smithfield Foods in January of 1982 as an Industrial Engineer Manager.  This job required him to relocate from his job in Arkansas City, Kansas at John Morrell to Smithfield, Virginia, where he spent the remainder of his years.  Lloyd had an impressive career with Smithfield Foods, eventually earning the title of Vice President of Operations before retiring around 2001 to open his restaurant, Panevino.   

A lover of food, Lloyd’s friends and family all remember him as a man who loved cuisine of all kinds and could be found at the finest of dining establishments one day and a dive bar the next.  Most commonly, Lloyd’s friends and family remember him as a man who was always trying to feed everyone around him.  He never arrived without a gift of food or drink in hand, whether it was raw oysters, moonshine or the lemon cake he always brought to a family member, he was generous to a fault. 

         Lloyd was a conundrum of a man.  He was larger than life – at 6’6, filled a room just by entering it.  Yet, juxtaposed with his size was the fact that one of his greatest joys in the world was holding a baby.  His daughter, Roxanne, remembers him not only coming over almost every day to hold each of her sons as infants, but also always wanting to visit with each of her close friends when they had babies. Those friends remember him gently holding their sleeping babies for hours, giving them a much needed break and giving their babies a warm spot to nap in Lloyd’s enormous arms.   

         Lloyd was also a man with incredibly varied interests.  His love of football was pervasive; it was an enormous part of who he was.  Yet he was also a lover of movies who is remembered by his grandsons Avery, Cooper and Oliver for routinely taking all the neighborhood children to the local cinema café – a memory of their Pee Paw that sticks with those neighborhood children to this day.  His enjoyment in sharing movies with his loved ones did not start with his grandchildren. His daughter Roxanne remembers going to dinner with her dad and brother, Barrett, and laughs at the memory of the three of them sitting around quoting “Ace Ventura” the entire meal. 

         Lloyd didn’t only love football – he loved all sports.  And he did not just love movies – he loved the arts in any form. Music was a real passion and he often attended live shows and concerts every chance he could.  That is one of his daughter Roxanne’s favorite memories with her father.  Attending live shows and singing and dancing like maniacs until the lights came up (often at her insistence).  He had season tickets to the Kennedy Center and Chrysler Hall; and regularly attended the symphony and the ballet, as well as theater of all kinds.  When his son, Barrett, was little, Lloyd took him to see “Grease” and was so excited re-telling the story of how Barrett, wearing a tiny leather jacket, was called onto stage during the performance.  His daughter Roxanne remembers him for taking her to see movies and plays, but always making her read the book beforehand when seeing a screen adaptation.  Which is another example of a passion of Lloyd's – reading.  Lloyd’s house was littered with bookcases all full of books of every kind, time period and genre. The full bookcases were not enough – books were often scattered over surfaces of his home as though there were not enough stories in the world for him to take in.   His son, Barrett, loved hearing about the latest book his father was reading and was always excited to sit down together to discuss their latest reads.

         Though he grew up in the City of Detroit, and lived the majority of his life in Smithfield, Lloyd’s happiest place was at the beach.  He spent a lot of time at his beach house in North Carolina and his children remember how happy he was playing in the waves like a big kid and falling asleep in the sand all day long.  The bars and restaurants knew him by name and the minute he sat down, he would start ordering rounds and telling stories.  Lloyd Enix was a man who knew no strangers.  

         Lloyd spent the last years of his life with his beloved girlfriend, Diane McLaughlin.  Lloyd took pleasure in sharing his love of movies with Diane, who remembers their quiet nights making “coffee cocktails” and popcorn and watching movies together.  They cared for one another and loved each other through the best and worst of times. 

         Anyone who met Lloyd Enix knows that he was a man who loved people, loved experiences and loved a good time. Most of all, he loved his family and he loved being surrounded by those he loved.  Lloyd was a man who wanted to have fun. He thrived when showing folks a good time.  He was a man who loved taking people to dinner or a concert. Lloyd loved traveling and was truly happy when meeting new people and experiencing new foods and environments.  His daughter-in-law remembers him telling her hundreds of times that whenever he would go out to a casino while on vacation with friends, he would lose $700. Every. Single. Time.  And when asked why he would continue to go if he knew he would lose $700 (or why he would keep playing once he was up if he knew he would eventually lose any profits until losing $700!), he always said without hesitation, “Because everyone else is always having fun.” 

He was a charismatic man to whom small talk came easy.  Lloyd’s ability to talk to anyone, anywhere, about anything was the main reason he never knew a stranger.  And also why he had an impressively-wide circle of friends and people who knew and cared about him.  Lloyd made an effort to get to know everyone he met, especially those who mattered to his loved ones.  That is evidenced by the relationships he developed with the friends of his children, grandchildren and even in-laws.  Lloyd was known to attend family holidays at the homes of extended family and even his children’s in-laws’ homes; he had strong relationships with the friends of his children and grandchildren; he had strong bonds with his son-in-law, Joe and daughter-in-law Tara; he helped his children’s friends every chance he got and was always looking to help in whatever way he could - even when it was to his own detriment.   

Lloyd did not always have the words to express his feelings, but his love was evident in his actions and the generosity he showed to every person he met.  The saying “he would give you the shirt off his back” is often overused to describe any person who shows acts of kindness or even healthy generosity.  But with regard to Lloyd, it is a true understatement.  Lloyd was always the first one to reach for the check and he often gave even when he did not have anything to give. 

A quirky man with specific interests, Lloyd’s personality is evident in the list of things that his loved ones say remind them of Lloyd.  Though everything reminds Lloyd’s friends and family of him, the things that most remind them of Lloyd Enix are: Baklava; v-neck pullover windbreakers; football (especially the Wolverines and college football); movies; music; food; his brush; motorcycles; the beach; his Corvette; small white dogs (especially his dog, Alex); moonshine; concerts; music; talks with his grandson, Oliver; his pride and love for his family and friends. 

Lloyd was predeceased by his parents Lloyd Richard Enix (Bertha) of Vero Beach, FL, Vesta Beatrice Dakasian (Arthur) of Allen Park, MI and his aunt Geraldine Bottini (Carl) of St. Claire Shores, MI.  He leaves behind his sister Laura Glidden (Gary) of Ft Worth, TX; children Amanda Horvath of Riverview, MI, Roxanne Daniel (Joe) of Carrollton, VA and Barrett Enix (Tara) of Glen Allen, VA; grandchildren Anthony, Avery, Cooper, Oliver, Lily and Declan; and many friends and beloved family.  Lloyd loved people. He loved experiences. He loved a story. And we will miss him every day. A Celebration of Life will be held December 11, 2021 at the residence of Joe & Roxanne Daniel, 23040 Britt Way, Carrollton, VA 23314 from 2p – 6p.  Online condolences may be registered at www.littlesfuneralhome.com.