Abilene soldier dies of illness

The Big Country's first armed forces personnel death of the year has one Abilene family grieving.

Christopher David Loza, 24, died Friday in Washington, D.C., of an unknown illness.

Loza was an Abilene High graduate who served in the Army as an engineering sergeant.

Loza's mother, Amelia Loza, declined to comment on her son's passing until more information was available from the Department of Defense.

Arrangements are pending with Elmwood Funeral Home.

Loza is the 23rd soldier with Big Country ties to die while in service since military engagements in the Middle East began.

The most recent soldier, 22-year-old Sgt. Reuben Marcus Fernandez III, of Abilene, was killed Oct. 11 in Iraq when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb.

Four soldiers from the area were killed last year in Iraq.