Obituary: Love, William Richard
Age 91
He passed away peacefully with his family at his side.
He was 91.
Born October 29, 1922 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, to parents Alva R. and Nola B.
Love; he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the summer of 1941 and trained as a B-17 mechanic.
With America’s entry into World War II, he shipped out to Europe in 1942, along with thousands of his fellow GIs, aboard the Queen Mary.
He served throughout the war with the 91st Bomb Group, 323rd Bomb Squadron, stationed at Bassingbourn, England, where he was ground crew chief for numerous B-17s, including “Sugar Blues,” “Tower of London,” and “Geraldine.”
He served with dedication and distinction, receiving the Bronze Star, and was rapidly promoted to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant.
After World War II, he continued his Air Force career, serving in both the Berlin Airlift and the Korean War.
He retired from active duty in 1964, remaining in the Air Force Reserves until 1972.
After retiring from the Air Force, he continued his aircraft maintenance career with the Air Force in a civilian capacity, as head of Transit Maintenance at Fairchild Air Force Base, serving in that role until his retirement in 1996.
While stationed in the northwest, he met his beloved wife Christina Joan.
Married in 1951, they raised their two children in the Spokane area, and were to remain together for over 59 years, until her death in 2011.
A devoted and loving husband and father, he loved spending time with his family.
He also loved tinkering with engines, both at work and at home.
His lifelong passion for cars and the open road took him on numerous cross-country road trips to visit family and friends, which was one of his greatest joys.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Christina Joan; his parents; sisters, Catherine and Patty; and brother, Bob.
He is survived by his son, Steven of Los Alamos, NM; daughter, Leesa and her husband Sumner Bennett of Redondo Beach, CA; sister, Nancy and her husband Don Jones of St. Louis, MO; sister-in-law, Jackie Love of St. Louis; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Memorial service with Military Honors will be held at Fairmont Memorial Park, Spokane WA, on July 3rd, 2014 at 6:00 PM.
Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.