Family and friends gathered Friday to remember Bob Love. Here’s a look back at his life:

Robert (Bob) W. Love Sr., 89, of Seattle, passed away January 27th, peacefully in his sleep.

Those who knew Bob Love will fondly remember him as a very caring man with a “larger-than-life smile.” He had a great wit and constant sense of humor. He brought laughter wherever he went. As father and grandfather, he always had encouraging words for his family. If life got someone down, he was there with encouraging words and a smile. Out of a generous heart, he went out of his way to help people get through things.

Bob was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, the youngest of 3 sons, born to Clarence William Love and Cora Erickson. He and his older brothers, Bill Love, and Lou Love, lived in Utah until approximately 1936 when the Loves moved to Seattle. He attended West Seattle High School. Soon after graduating, Bob was offered a spot in a Machinist Trade School program. God had led him to the work he was ‘cut out for,’ and he became passionate about it, and soon advanced into Foreman positions.

He had a lifelong career in the aerospace industry. He worked in Seattle, California, and Alaska. Much later it would lead him to being the Foreman in Alaska, in the fish-canning industry, before retiring and opening a floor-covering company in Rainier Valley.

Bob also met the love of his life and best friend, Leatrice (Lea) Nelson, after High School graduation. They married December 31st, 1946, and loved driving around in their 1937 Packard to the venues of the 1940s Seattle Jazz scene. Together, they raised four children, and remained married for 49.5 years, until her passing in 1995. Family was always the focus of his life. A few years later, Bob was blessed to meet his second wife, Laura Funk, of Oregon. Bob and Laura enjoyed life together and had many fun adventures until Laura’s passing in early 2013.

Bob was also passionate about music, and learning about famous people. He studied the Bible and many other books daily and particularly loved “Hurlbuts Story of The Bible for Young and Old,” and read books on numerous topics. He loved learning about everything. He loved the jazz of New Orleans in the 1940s. He taught himself to read music, and play Tenor Saxophone, as well as piano. He had the opportunity as a young man to play Boogie Woogie style piano at the famous Trianon Jazz Club in Seattle, and received a standing ovation for his spontaneous performance. He was an avid trout and salmon fisherman, and spent many hours sharing the joy of fishing with his family. His lifetime prize fish was his 62 lb Chinook (king) Salmon, caught just out of Craig, Alaska, in 1998. Home life was very important to Bob. He enjoyed helping decorate and remodel, and always enjoyed creating a warm, inviting place for friends and family, for gatherings, games, singing, and laughter.

Bob will be greatly missed by many nieces and nephews, his older brother Bill Love Sr. and his surviving children: Laura (David) Wymore, Arlington, WA; and Lizbeth (Keith) McNeil, Seattle, WA; as well as 5 grandchildren; John (Fawn) Douglas; Karyn Douglas; John Martinson; Seth McNeil; Chelsea (Will) Bennett; and 1 great grandchild, Johnny Douglas; and step-great grandchildren Alyssa and Michael; his step daughter Beverly Beeman, and step son Bobby, and many step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren from his second family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence Love and Cora Warnock; his wife, Lea Love; his 2nd wife, Laura Funk; his brother, Lou Love; his daughter, Linda Love; and son, Robert Love Jr.

You can see a 40-photo gallery by going here.