Eleanor Love

Eleanor Wills Love, 92, died peacefully at home the first day of summer, June 21, 2010.

She was born October 4, 1917 in Pomeroy, Washington to Vertie Veneta DeWalt Wills and Urias Victor Wills. She was the fifth of seven children. When remarks were made about Eleanor's childhood seriousness, her mother replied, "Still waters run deep." The family's 140 acre wheat farm named Elephant Ranch sustained them through the depression years, and each member developed a keen sense of responsibility and hard work. While attending Washington State College, Eleanor was president of the YWCA, and after receiving a Bachelor's Degree in both Education and Speech (like her mother), she married the president of the Independent Men's Association, Elbert Howard Love, who received a Bachelor's Degree the same year in Architectural Engineering. Early in her marriage, Eleanor's mother said, "Well, you will never be bored married to him." The following 51 years before he died were indeed exciting. Within the first 18 months of marriage WWII separated the family, and then Elbert contracted polio. This destroyed many ambitions, but created new ones. Eleanor courageously supported her adored husband during his hours of need as well as in his many successful endeavors. She held their family together, eventually bearing seven children, 3 daughters and 4 sons. They raised their family in Seattle, Portland and Tucson before retiring in Utah.

She was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a young mother, and they were sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple as a family within a decade. This elegant and honorable lady had great faith in Priesthood blessings. She and Elbert supported their four sons on LDS missions, and attended the Temple marriages of their seven children. Eleanor taught elementary school in five states prior to earning a Master's Degree in Counseling from the University of Arizona. Most vacations were to family reunions or to accomplish genealogical research, an extension of her passion for her family. She and Elbert continued to nurture as they could, their children's families and many of their grandchildren. Recently she expressed, "I feel great gratitude to my children for their efforts in trying to live the gospel, and in teaching their children those things that are eternally most desirable and wonderful. How it happened that I was able to be a part of this plan, and that there were those before me that made it possible, I am also forever grateful. I pray daily that our family can be together forever." In life she was vibrant and beautiful and in death she will be greatly missed. May God also treasure our mother. Eleanor was preceded in death by her precious companion, Elbert Howard Love, by her parents, 3 brothers, 2 sisters, and 1 great granddaughter. She is survived by her 3 daughters, Loretta and Val Grover, Judy Love, Rosanne and Britt Ripley, and her 4 sons, John and Linda Love, Dewalt and Betsy Love, Mark and Robin Love, and Ransom and Nyla Love, 37 grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren, 1 sister Anne and Gary Langer, and a large extended family.

The family wish to express their appreciation for the tender and excellent care received from the professionals who serve through Envision Home Health & Hospice, and Walker Mortuary of Morgan, UT.

Funeral services will be held Monday, June 28, 2010 at 11 a.m. in the Highlands Chapel, 4150 Old Highway Road, Mountain Green, UT. Friends and family may call preceding the service at the church between 9:45 and 10:45 a.m.

Interment, Mountain Green Cemetery.