CHARLES R. LOVE, 86

(veteran)

Charles R. Love, 86, of Sacramento, Calif., died Feb. 26, 2002 in Sacramento.

Charles “Charlie” Raymond Love was born Aug. 17, 1915 in Blair.

As a boy, he was raised on the farm and educated in a two-room school house in the cornfields of Nebraska. He grew up living a simple life, learning down-to-earth ideas, values and morals which shaped his entire life. He was the youngest of eight children.

In 1940, he married Evalena Rahlfs, also of Blair, and the couple moved to California in 1941.

Mr. Love served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

He was an electrician by trade, which was purely by accident. In 1947, with great interest, he would frequently watch crews install high-voltage electrical towers while on lunch break from work. One day, the foreman of the crew asked if he wanted a job. The rest is history. He worked in the electrical trade until his retirement in 1980, working on projects ranging from house wiring to power plants, generators to high voltage distribution power lines, and industrial controls. Mainly out of respect for their father, both of his sons followed in his footsteps, one becoming an electrician, and one becoming an electrical engineer.

In support of his sons, Mr. Love served as a Boy Scout leader for a number of years in Troop 207, sponsored by Town & County Lutheran Church. This also let him express a great interest of his life: the love of the outdoors, wildlife and nature.

Whenever possible, he had a home garden, which was an interest and passion learned in his childhood. His gardens returned him to his love of farming and his Nebraska farm roots.

Mr. Love was a member of Town & Country Lutheran Church for 45 years, serving as an usher; a member of the church’s finance board; and a member of the plant and property board. He performed countless installations, maintenance and repair jobs over the years. If he was missing (which was often), he could always be found fixing sprinklers or something else at the church, and never expected any recognition for all that he did.

He was a caring, helpful person, liked by all. He emphasized that ne should always be available to help others and to put others first, and that one should always listen to others as they mighyt have the answer to a question or a better idea. He was respectful of other people, and open to their ideas. He was a supporter of the average workingman, which was reflected in his thinking, politics, religious beliefs, and actions.

Though he did not have an extended education, Mr. Love was a learned man, because he loved to read and watch informational programs. He read the newspaper from beginning to end on a daily basis, as well as magazines such as National Geographic and Reader’s Digest. He was very informed on many subjects and had many interests.

He is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, James and Donna Love and Richard and Judy Love; four grandchildren and spouses; five great-grandchildren; and two sisters-in-law, Margaret Christensen and Lola Rahlfs, both of Blair.