More detail on this person: Col. Joseph Bland Love Joseph Bland Love, Col. U.S. Army (Ret.), died March 8, 2011. Joe was born to Joseph Bennett and Mabel Bland Love in Shelby, MS on March 30, 1925. He grew up in Mississippi and Arizona. In March 1943, Joe joined the U.S. Army Air Corps; he was a B-24 navigator with the 307th Bomb Group, 13th Air Force SWPAC and flew 28 combat missions earning two air medals. Joe next briefly attended the University of Arizona where he was an SAE. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1950. After earning his paratrooper wings, he joined the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. He married Mary Pharr Lathram from Bessemer, Alabama, in June 1951. Shortly afterwards he was deployed to Korea and commanded G Company, 5th RCT. Joe was awarded the Silver Star and Combat Infantryman's Badge. He was selected by General James Van Fleet to lead President Eisenhower's Inaugural Parade as Commander of Eighth Army Colors Detachment. Joe next commanded A Company, 3d Infantry (Old Guard). There followed assignments as Aide to the Superintendent at USMA; Ranger School, where he earned his Ranger Tab; Quantico, (USMC Junior School); Ft. Bragg (77th Special Forces); Ft. Leavenworth, (Command & General Staff School); France; Germany; the JCS in Washington; Vietnam, (Commanding 2/5 1st Cavalry Div., awarded the Bronze Star with V and Oakleaf, the Legion of Merit with Oakleaf, and two Air Medals with V); Carlisle Barracks, (US Army War College); Ft. Rucker for helicopter pilot training; and Ft. Bragg (acting Commander of JFK School for Special Warfare; Commanding Officer 7th Special Forces Group (Green Berets); and CO, 1st Corps Support Command, 18th Airborne Corps). Joe retired to Jacksonville in 1975 having served 32 years and in 3 wars. Joe was a skilled tennis & squash player. The year he retired he was the Inter-Service Tennis Doubles Champion and then the Florida Senior Squash Champion. He continued playing winning tennis at the Florida Yacht Club. In civilian life in Jacksonville, Joe earned a MBA from UNF and worked in real estate sales, and bank & law firm administration. He served as an Elder in the St. Johns Presbyterian Church; as a board member at Pine Castle; and as an active member and Commander of both the Kirby Smith Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Military Order of the Stars and Bars. He was also an active member of the St. Andrews Society; the Sons of the American Revolution; the West Point Society; the Meninak Club; the Aztec Club; and the 200 Club. Joe is survived by Mary Pharr Love, his devoted and loving wife of 59 years; daughters Mary Bland Love Gobelman (Bob), Ouida Anne Love, Robin Love Ellis (Craig), and Lee Love Woodard, M.D. (Bobby); grandchildren Reily and Caroline Ewald, and Ben, Sarah and Matt Woodard; niece Kristin Love Robinson (Kane); and nephew Scott Reily Love (Sarah). His brother John Reily Love (Col. USMC Ret.) preceded him in death in 2010. For the last several years Joe lived courageously with kidney failure and prostate cancer. In August 2010 he decided to stop dialysis. He and his family thank his caregivers who were so capable and compassionate during his last march - Geneva McClain, Alex McClain, and Charlotte Duncan. A celebration of life will be held on Friday, March 11, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Johns Presbyterian Church, 4275 Herschel Street, 32210, Associate Pastor Tara Thompson, presiding, concluding with military honors. His inurnment will be at Friendship Cemetery, Columbus, MS. In lieu of flowers, Joe requested contributions to St. Johns Presbyterian Church; the ARC of the St. Johns, 2101 Arc Drive, St. Augustine, FL 32084; or the Museum of Southern History, 4304 Herschel Street, 32210. Arrangements by Green Pine Funeral Home. Florida Times Union, Mar 11 2011
Burial information: Friendship Cemetery, Columbus, MS
This information was last updated 03/18/2019
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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