Funeral Services will be held on Monday, December 7, 2020 at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home's Chapel of Faith 5701 Hwy. 277 S. in Abilene at 1:00 PM with Greg Rake Officiating. Burial to follow in Elmwood Memorial Park at 2:00 PM. Visitation will be held at the funeral home Sunday, December 6, 2020 from 1-3:00 PM.
James was born on September 27, 1928 in Bedford, Indiana to the late Harry and Eulalia (Goen) Lovell. He attended and graduated from Bedford High School in 1946. He married Sybile Clark Lovell in 1954 until her passing in 1991. He married Mary Roach Havins who he knew from Calvary Baptist Church in Abilene on February 21, 1992. He moved to Abilene from Roswell, New Mexico in 1963. He served his country both faithfully and honorably in his 21 year military career with the United States Air Force, during which he flew 23 combat missions with 5,000 hours of flight time, 3,300 hours of which were in B52's.
Following his military career, he began working for the City of Abilene as a Treatment Plant Operator and continued this career for another 20 years. He had been a member of the Retired Enlisted Assn. and attended the Rose Park Senior Activity Center. He had been a member of First Christian Church in Indiana and was a member of Calvary Baptist in Abilene for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wives, Sybile Lovell, and Mary Lovell; daughter, Martha Nell McAdams; sister, Rosemary Keith and very special friend, Dorothy Williams.
He is survived by his brother, Harry “Boots” Lovell and wife, Marie-Jeanne, of Ocala, FL; sons, Larry Havins and wife, Janice, of Wasilla, AK., Les Havins and wife, Lori, of Burleson, TX; grandchildren; Lenn Schwarz and husband Rick; Sandy Huber and husband Frank; Robert Lemaster and wife Jane; Dona DeLanghe and husband, Randy; Diane Richards and husband Greg; Terron Havins and wife, Kelsey; Whitley Rodgers and husband Joel; Justin Havins and wife, Kate; Jeremy Havins and Jennifer Havins; 15 great-grandchildren, 11 great-great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews other relatives and friends, as well as very special friends, Terry and Ellen Rumpf, Marilyn Grant, and his 4-legged neighborhood companion, Pickle (Chavo).
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Meals on Wheels or the charity of your choice.
PALLBEARERS
Terron Havins
Joel Rodgers
United States Air Force Honor Guard
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