George Herbert LOVE

George Love, 92 and longtime resident of Des Moines, Washington, died peacefully surrounded by his loving family Friday, February 17, 2012.
He was born June 24, 1919 in Burien and lived his entire life in the South End. He owned that town. He attended Sunnydale and Highline HS. He met his wife Carol at the Burien baseball field and they married in 1963.

Mr. Love’s family includes: wife of 49 years, Carol Love; sister Betty Tollefsen; sons Eric (Amanda), Mike (Sue) and Pat Love; daughter Alyssa Love; and grandchildren Lydia and Parker Love. His extended family includes: Jeff Mill, Rhonda and Larry Nelsen, and Ralph Mill.

George owned his first gas station at the age of 16. He then owned Burien Cab and Towing, a home oil delivery service, and several grocery stores including a grocery distribution business.

He coached Little League, Babe Ruth and Connie Mac baseball teams in the Burien area. He coached his Babe Ruth team for six years, winning the league every year, with only two losses. The team went on to play in the World Series in Canada, losing one game. Some of his teams were Bonnie Guitar and Brumbaugh Builders, who produced a perfect season of 24 wins and zero losses.

His semi-pro team was Seattle Rendering. Some of his “boys” included: Ronnie Santo who played 13 years with the Chicago Cubs and then broadcast their games and is now in the Hall of Fame, Dick Gyselman who played for the Philadelphia Phillies and then the Seattle Rainiers, and Bob Houbregs who became an All American basketball player at the University of Washington.

Avid sports fan, a true supporter of the Huskies, and a fair-weather Mariners fan, he continued to coach from the couch. Not just an on-the-field fan, George collected baseball cards for years, and also coins - old and new as they became available. Aside from baseball,

Mr. Love’s other passion was firewood. He spent many a day splitting, stacking, organizing, and selling “bone-dry” firewood at Bo Colello‘s market on Des Moines Memorial Drive.

A celebration of Mr. Love’s life, who was affectionately known as “the wood guy”, will be Sunday, March 4th, 2pm at the Community of Christ Highland Park Church, 8611 11th Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98106. Please visit www.BonneyWatson.com for the full story of Mr. Love’s life.