Russell Love, 64

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

Russell Henry Love, 64, of Mountain Home, died in San Antonio, Texas, on Friday, Nov. 19, 2004, after a short fight against cancer.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 24th, 10:30 a.m., at First Christian Church in Sac City, Iowa, with Rev. Sharla Hulsey, officiating, and Joyce Irwin, organist. Burial will be at Cedar Cemetery, rural Sac City, under the direction of the Farber and Otteman Funeral Home, with military graveside rites by the Offutt Honor Guard.

Russell was born in Storm Lake, Iowa, Aug. 21, 1940, to Lloyd and Irene (Presley) Love. He was the third of five children. He spent his youth in Sac City, Iowa, and graduated from the Sac City High School in 1958.

In October of 1958 he joined the Air Force. It was during his travels in the service that he met Carmelita Uy in the Philippines. They were married Aug. 5, 1961, and spent 43 years together.

When Russ retired from the Air Force he moved his family to Laredo, Texas, to be closer to his parents and join their business venture, Love Imports. After six years, he moved his family to Mountain Home, where he had been stationed before and had so enjoyed camping, fishing, and walking in the mountains.

Russ loved when family came to visit so he could show them all the things he loved about Idaho, his family said, especially Trinity Lake where his family went camping all the time.

"Russ will always be remembered for his love of family and friends, his ability to have a good time and make sure others were having a good time, his laugh, and for the twinkle that was always in his bright blue eyes."

He is survived by: his wife, Carmelita U. Love; his children, Elena Tamez and her husband, Eduardo, of San Jose, Calif., Christine Rodriguez and husband, Richard, of Von Ormy, Tesas, Russell L. Love and his wife, Shailagh, of Mountain Home, Marilyn Goetz and her husband, James, of San Antonio, Texas, and Teresa Cook and her husband, Robert, of Elmendorf, Tesas; 15 grandchildren; a brother, Kenneth Love and his wife, Nancy, of Denison, Iowa; sisters Ellie Sandvig and her husband, Richard, of Omaha, Neb., Linda Henson and her husband, Darrell, of Omaha, Neb., and Dale Wilhelm and her husband, Max, of Plymouth, Minn.; many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

Russell was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Irene Love, and a grandson, Elvin Mark Tamez.