Lt. Col. (Retired)John C. Love, Usmc

Lt. Col. (Retired) John C. Love, USMC Our Dad: Soldier, poet, tinkerer, father and husband. This old soldier faded away on August 18, 2014 at his home in Oklahoma City. John was born in Fowler, New York, the son of Wallace Andrew and Pearl Sedate (Force) Love and was one of six sons, living there until age 9. The family moved south to Crewe, VA and started a country store. It was there he met our mother, Grace Martin, to whom he was married for 26 years and raised 5 children. He was a man of great intelligence and entered high school at the age of 11. World War II intervened in the early Forties and John moved away, first to help build military camps then enlisting in the Marine Corps in November of 1943. He served until 1946, fighting on Iwo Jima. He earned his high school diploma, the first in his family, from Crewe HS by correspondence while serving overseas. He was called up to serve in Korea in 1950 and there began a Marine career that ended up being a total of 29 years. He served two tours in Viet Nam as well as peacetime postings in Thailand and Okinawa. He became an officer and eventually a Lt. Colonel, a rare "Mustang" that started as a buck private and became a high level military officer. He earned his Bachelor's degree in writing at Cameron University at Lawton in 1970, also the first in his family. John retired in 1974, soon becoming his own boss. Dad rebuilt a 1 ton truck and then built a trailer from the ground up, using it to haul vintage cars. He always intended to rebuild them, but seemed content to swap them and haul them around. Dad met and married Gloria Stanford Dobson in 1987 and established their home, loving each other until his passing and beyond. Dad began his avocation as Marine Corps poet laureate, including the widely published "Kid from the Comm Platoon" poem. John and Gloria spent many nights and many trips going to military reunions for reciting poetry and fellowship with retired colleagues. John was preceded in death by his parents; first wife Grace McCauley; brothers Richard, Ray, Carlton and Donald. He is survived by his wife Gloria, of the home, brother Jim of Zephyrhills, FL, daughters Linda (Mike) LeBorgne of Denver, CO, Arlene Love of Marin, CA, sons John C., Jr (Lisa) of Gettysburg, PA, Richard of Norman and Dr. James (Susan) of Norman, step-daughter Diane (Jim) Feinberg of Oklahoma City. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.