Joan K. Loveland

Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Joan grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts with five sisters and two brothers. She attended high school at Kendall Hall in Peterborough, New Hampshire where she was senior class secretary, business manager of the yearbook and played on the hockey and basketball teams. She attended Manhattanville College in New York City. A volunteer nurse’s aide for the Red Cross, Joan joined the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps – later changed to the Women’s Army Corp – on the 1st of September 1943. She rose from Private to the rank of 1st Lieutenant. She was due for a promotion to Captain on December 1st but was released on the 30th of November 1945, – The War was over. She married naval aviator, Eugene Loveland in 1944. Four sons and one daughter brought about eleven grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.

Gene’s job with Shell Oil required eighteen moves in his 34 year career. Thanks to Joan’s love of travel and learning, the five children thrived on the experiences. Joan loved people and parties to go to and to give. She had a great style and a smile that would light up a room. She was a member of the Junior League, a volunteer at The Houston Food Bank, a docent at Bayou Bend and a member of the Houston Ballet Guild. Noted for her beautiful penmanship, when the Ball invitations were ready, Joan was in great demand.

She was preceded in death by her parents and five siblings. Joan is survived by her husband of 70 years, Eugene F. Loveland; children Jeff Loveland and his wife, Sara, of Darien, Connecticut; Peter Loveland and his wife, Kathy, of Bridgman, Michigan; David Loveland and his wife, Susan, of Winnetka, Illinois; Mark Loveland and his wife, Jamie, of Houston, Texas; Laurie Daniel and her husband, Dan, of Katy, Texas; her sisters Sallie King Cramer of Williamstown, Massachusetts; Pinky King Whelan of Los Altos, California; nine grandchildren and their spouses: Rob and Nicole Loveland of Midland, Texas; James Loveland of New York City; Patty and Jon David of Chandler, Arizona; Ryan and Jennifer Loveland of Westminster, Colorado; Miki Mancine of Winnetka, Illinois; Kimberly and Adam Paster of Westfield, New Jersey; Michael Loveland of Highwood, Illinois; Anne Loveland of Los Angeles, California; David and Summer Loveland of Dallas, Texas; Patrick and Rachel Webb of Ft. Worth, Texas; Taylor and Rhyn Cason of Houston, Texas and thirteen great grandchildren: Emery, Paislee-Anne, Rylan, Tyler, Evan, Kiara, Elizabeth, William, Henry, Jake, Jonathan, Truly and Noah.

The family would like to thank all the nurses at The Hallmark and Hospice for the love and care they gave to her over the past few months.

A memorial mass is to be celebrated at nine o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 22nd of February, at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2140 Westheimer Road in Houston. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in the nearby Parish Center.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to The Houston Ballet Foundation, 601 Preston Street, Houston, TX, 77002.