Henrietta J. Love

Henrietta Joy Love, always called “Joy”
Born December 7th 1922 in Guthrie Oklahoma. Died December 6th 2016 one day before her 94th Birthday. Married May 11th 1942 to Jack F. Love
Preceded in death by two sons Daniel Love in 1989, Jon Love in 1990 and husband Jack Love in 2009.  Surviving family members, son Terry Love and wife Beverly of Claremore, Oklahoma, daughter Linda Love and her husband Ken Thomas. Grandsons, Jonathan Thomas and fiancée Erin Riley, Mark Thomas and wife Kristen all of Albuquerque.  Michael Love of Fremont, Ca and Byron Love of Union City, Ca. and favorite Great Granddaughter Lucia Rose Thomas of Albuquerque.
Joy started her education in a one room school house and graduated from Oklahoma City High School.  She worked at Beechcraft for the war effort as a “Rosy the Riveter” until she got married during the war in 1942.  Joy followed her husband Jack who was in the US Army Air Corp bomber patrol, while he was hunting Nazi Submarines up and down the east coast of the US.
In 1952 the family moved to Saudi Arabia, where Jack was stationed with TWA on loan to Saudi Arabian Airlines.  Then back to the United States in 1959 to have 4 children complete their education in the US.  Joy and husband Jack returned to Saudi Arabia in 1966 and stayed until retiring in1980 and moving to Albuquerque.  During the many years working for TWA the family traveled all over the world from Paris to Calcutta, Kenya to Tokyo, the desert of the Rub’ al Khali and  many places not on maps. Joy loved nothing more than to travel, family vacations were around the world adventures into diverse cultures. From which Joy became an excellent cook due to exposures to these cultures and the fact that American food supplies in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia were limited. She could make a mean meatloaf, plate of spaghetti or curry with canned corn beef, if that was all she had on hand. She had a very well developed palette. She learned to make many other dishes from her experiences traveling and tasting new and different foods in other countries. She collected recipes from any and everywhere.
Joy and Jack discovered Hot Air Balloons after moving to Albuquerque. They crewed for the balloon “Ocean Quest”. Pilot Ed Prior said they were his best crew, Jack could fix anything on the balloon and Joy cooked and entertained the guests.
Joy was an active member of the Bead Society here in Albuquerque; she adored and collected handmade beads from Africa.
After losing her 2 youngest sons to AIDS, Joy and her husband became members of the AIDS Society promoting AIDS awareness. Then helping others grieving the loss of loved ones from AIDS by assisting them to make and show AIDS quilts.   No one ever knew that Joy was not the best seamstress and hated mending anything. This was her labor of love.
Joy was an avid reader and read the Journal front to back every day until 2 days before she passed. Despite her challenges with macular degeneration and having to look through a 20 power magnifying glass while wearing a 7 x power visor. She would cut relevant articles out of the newspaper to pass on to family and friends. When you started receiving a stack with your name on it, you knew you had been accepted into her circle.
Her rose garden and interest in growing fruits and vegetables harkened back to her childhood of growing up on a farm in Oklahoma.  She attributed her longevity to good nutrition and eating lots of fruits and vegetables with vibrant colors.
Services will be held Friday December 30th 1pm at Daniels Funeral Home on Wyoming with reception to follow. Internment for Joy and husband Jack will be in spring at Santa Fe National Cemetery.