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In Memory

James Albert Love - Class Of 1959 VIEW PROFILE

James Albert Love

 

Jim’s life began on July 23, 1941, in South Bend, Indiana, as the son of Albert and Geneva (Turner) (Love) Vida. He passed away on July 20, 2021, in Green Valley, Arizona. He was 79 years old. Both of his parents and two of his sisters, Karen and Kristine, preceded him in death.

On August 5, 1962, he married the former Janice Harrison (deceased). On July 25, 1989, Jim married Suzanne Colley. Both felt that fate had brought them together. He said, she was the light in his life, his soul mate, best friend and lover. He is survived by his children James A. (Jay) Love, II (Tracy), of Granger, IN; Jennifer (Love) Kress (Ben) of New Carlisle, IN; Jonathan Love (Heather) of Cassopolis, MI, and Step-Daughters Michelle (Colley) Perry of Nashville, TN, and Caroline (Colley) Hawley (Christopher) of South Bend, IN.; 10 Grandchildren all of whom will miss their Papa Bear dearly. His siblings include Karen (Love) Blume (Larry), both deceased; Kristine Love-Van Belleghem (John), both deceased, and Beverly J. Pryor of Green Valley, AZ.

In May 2005, Jim moved to Green Valley, AZ, with Suzanne and his mother, from Edwardsburg, MI, where they had lived for 18 years. He spent 5 years in Martin, TN, attending college at the University of Tennessee Martin Branch, graduating in 1964 with a BS degree. In 1966, he was drafted into the US Army and spent 5 years on active duty, with overseas tours in Korea and Vietnam. He attended Officer Candidate School, Ft. Benning, GA, receiving a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant Infantry, in July 1967. In May 1971, he was honorably discharged from active service. He continued his military career in the US Army Reserves, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and retired in 1994. He was awarded two Purple Hearts and the Bronze-Star Medal with “V” device for valor during his tours in Vietnam.

Jim graduated from South Bend Central High School in South Bend, IN, in 1959. An outstanding athlete, sports played a major role during his years at Central. As a result of his performance in high school, he was offered a full scholarship to play football for the University of Tennessee at Martin, where he played all 4 years. In 1988 he was inducted into the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

He was a life member of the Lozier VFW Post, Cassopolis, MI, and a member of the American Legion Post #50 in South Bend, IN, and the American Legion Madera Post #131, Green Valley, AZ.

07/23/2021 JFC

 
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12/12/21 09:14 AM #1    

Fred Scott (1959)

Jim was an energetic person who attended Colfax Elementary School where we both attended. We played basketball together and I remember Jim had large feet and wore shoes that were so large that we called them "Gun Boats."  The Colfax gym was so small that the basketball backboards were affixed to the walls on each end right above the doors that you went in and came out of, and part of the sidelines were also the walls of the gym.  When Jim stole the basketball from the opponents he ran so hard dribbling the ball to the other end that Jim would end up going UP the walls near the basket to lay the ball in. It was entertaining to see.  

Jim was hit either twice or three times in Vietnam.  One of the times Jim was carrying a fellow soldier on his back when he was taking mortar fire and the last shell killed the guy Jim was carrying on his back and that same person who Jim was trying to save, saved Jim's life by taking the shrapnel. That was the last injury Jim would face on the battlefield and that sent Jim home to the states.

I asked Jim to go along with our family on a trip and his parents said he could go.  We went to Missouri where all of my Uncles had farms and we had a really fun time as city slickers chasing the cows and running from the bulls on the farms. He was a good guy and I was saddened to learn of Jim's passing.

Fred Scott


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