Official Obituary of
Eleanor Louise (Lake) Love
October 27, 1928 ~ September 15, 2026 (age 97) 97 Years Old
Eleanor Love Obituary
Eleanor Louise Lake Love was born to Everett Gerald (b.1885-d.1964) and Velta Lucille Hunton Lake (b.1895-d.1996) on October 27, 1928. She was the youngest of 6 children, with 4 brothers, Gerald Hunton Lake (b.1915-d.2004, wife Edythe), Eppa Levine Lake (b.1917-d.2004, wife Lucille), Edgar Luther Lake (b.1919-d.1949, wife Mary Helen), Phillip Wendell Lake (b.1921-d.1955) as well as one sister, Mary Catherine Lake Boucher (b.1924-d.2023, husband Mayo T. Boucher). Eleanor graduated from Belen High School on May 23, 1947, and married the love of her life, John William Love, two days later, on Sunday, May 25, 1947.
Eleanor became a Navy wife as John served his country during World War II and again during the Korean War. Their oldest son, John William II, was born in 1950, and spent some time living with his parents on Guam. Their second son, Ralph Lee Love, was born in 1953, followed by their daughter, Laura Lou Love, in 1956.
John and Eleanor were pillars in Belen, NM. They owned and operated Love Electric Company where Eleanor was the bookkeeper. They helped found Terrace Grove Cemetery, and they were leaders in the First Baptist Church congregation where Eleanor served individuals with special needs and helped teach children's classes until she could no longer walk at the age of 94.
After Eleanor and John retired from the electrical business, Eleanor began to substitute teach in Belen. She then took college courses so she "could get paid more." She enjoyed the classes so much that she continued until she earned her bachelor's degree in special education from UNM. She was hired as a special education teacher at Ann Parish Elementary School in Los Lunas where she worked tirelessly, advocating for families and students with diverse learning needs until her first retirement when John was ill. Eleanor returned to substitute teaching and continued working for Los Lunas Schools until the age of 92, when (although they begged her not to) she retired…again. Teaching was her passion and joy, and she bragged about "her kids" with pride.
Eleanor grew vegetables and flowers and always had canned fruit or a bouquet of flowers to share. She exercised with her Jazzercise or her Silver Sneakers crew. She enjoyed painting in acrylic and watercolor, storytelling, writing and publishing "letters to the editor," studies in personal history and genealogy, carving "pumkins," Christmas caroling, hosting parties, and attending any event involving the ladies' groups of her church, usually with a fresh peach cobbler in hand.
Eleanor lost many she loved over the years. She was especially impacted by the loss of a pregnancy; the sudden death of her brother, Phil; the losses of her nephews and niece, Mark, Marlin, and Donna; the long illness and death of her son's partner, Sander; and the devastating effect of breast cancer leading to the death of her daughter-in-law, Viki. She mourned the passing of her parents, of each of her siblings and their spouses, of friends she played with, graduated with, raised kids alongside, sat by in church, co-taught with, educated, or was neighbor to. She especially mourned her husband of 56 years, John, who died September 16, 2003 (b.1924-d.2003).
Eleanor lived a long and full life which concluded peacefully on Tuesday, September 15, 2026; leaving behind her three children; John, Ralph, and Laura; son-in-law, Roger; nine grandchildren; James Love, John Love, Jennifer Love Lindley, Julia Love Woodruff, Joni Love Mullins, Miriam Griffith Wamsley, Martha Griffith Navarro, Deborah Griffith Stambaugh, and Hannah Griffith Dunn; along with their spouses, their children, their grandchildren, and too many cousins to count.
Eleanor brought joy to so many through her words and her work, and will be remembered for her fierce love and helpful hands.
A funeral service for Eleanor will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 10:00 am at the First Baptist Church of Belen. Interment will take place immediately following services at Terrace Grove Cemetery.
Pallbearers include: Allen Love, Eric Love, Johnny Woodruff, Jesse Woodruff, Nathaniel Wamsley, Corbyn Wamsley, Lukas Navarro, and Edmund Stambaugh.
Eleanor's arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen, where an online guest register is available at www.noblin.com
Eleanor became a Navy wife as John served his country during World War II and again during the Korean War. Their oldest son, John William II, was born in 1950, and spent some time living with his parents on Guam. Their second son, Ralph Lee Love, was born in 1953, followed by their daughter, Laura Lou Love, in 1956.
John and Eleanor were pillars in Belen, NM. They owned and operated Love Electric Company where Eleanor was the bookkeeper. They helped found Terrace Grove Cemetery, and they were leaders in the First Baptist Church congregation where Eleanor served individuals with special needs and helped teach children's classes until she could no longer walk at the age of 94.
After Eleanor and John retired from the electrical business, Eleanor began to substitute teach in Belen. She then took college courses so she "could get paid more." She enjoyed the classes so much that she continued until she earned her bachelor's degree in special education from UNM. She was hired as a special education teacher at Ann Parish Elementary School in Los Lunas where she worked tirelessly, advocating for families and students with diverse learning needs until her first retirement when John was ill. Eleanor returned to substitute teaching and continued working for Los Lunas Schools until the age of 92, when (although they begged her not to) she retired…again. Teaching was her passion and joy, and she bragged about "her kids" with pride.
Eleanor grew vegetables and flowers and always had canned fruit or a bouquet of flowers to share. She exercised with her Jazzercise or her Silver Sneakers crew. She enjoyed painting in acrylic and watercolor, storytelling, writing and publishing "letters to the editor," studies in personal history and genealogy, carving "pumkins," Christmas caroling, hosting parties, and attending any event involving the ladies' groups of her church, usually with a fresh peach cobbler in hand.
Eleanor lost many she loved over the years. She was especially impacted by the loss of a pregnancy; the sudden death of her brother, Phil; the losses of her nephews and niece, Mark, Marlin, and Donna; the long illness and death of her son's partner, Sander; and the devastating effect of breast cancer leading to the death of her daughter-in-law, Viki. She mourned the passing of her parents, of each of her siblings and their spouses, of friends she played with, graduated with, raised kids alongside, sat by in church, co-taught with, educated, or was neighbor to. She especially mourned her husband of 56 years, John, who died September 16, 2003 (b.1924-d.2003).
Eleanor lived a long and full life which concluded peacefully on Tuesday, September 15, 2026; leaving behind her three children; John, Ralph, and Laura; son-in-law, Roger; nine grandchildren; James Love, John Love, Jennifer Love Lindley, Julia Love Woodruff, Joni Love Mullins, Miriam Griffith Wamsley, Martha Griffith Navarro, Deborah Griffith Stambaugh, and Hannah Griffith Dunn; along with their spouses, their children, their grandchildren, and too many cousins to count.
Eleanor brought joy to so many through her words and her work, and will be remembered for her fierce love and helpful hands.
A funeral service for Eleanor will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 10:00 am at the First Baptist Church of Belen. Interment will take place immediately following services at Terrace Grove Cemetery.
Pallbearers include: Allen Love, Eric Love, Johnny Woodruff, Jesse Woodruff, Nathaniel Wamsley, Corbyn Wamsley, Lukas Navarro, and Edmund Stambaugh.
Eleanor's arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen, where an online guest register is available at www.noblin.com
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