1939
Stuart
2021
Stuart Lee Love
February 16, 1939 — March 15, 2021
Dr. Stuart L. Love
February 16, 1939 – March 15, 2021
Stuart Love died March 15, 2021, in his home and surrounded by family after a brief battle with Leukemia. He is survived by his wife D’Esta (Guild) Love, his brothers, Karl Love (Portland, OR) and Max Love (Fountain Valley, AR), his sons Dr. Mark Love (Rochester Hills, MI), and Dr. Jon Love (Albuquerque), and their wives Donna and Charlotte. Stuart is also survived by six grandsons, five granddaughters, and five great-granddaughters.
He was born to Carl and Ester (Herbst) Love in Pendleton, OR. He lost his father when he was two years old, leaving his mother to raise him and his brothers. They lived wherever they could find work or wherever educational opportunities presented themselves, including farms in Iowa and Minnesota, with other boyhood homes in Washington, Oregon, California, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
He met and married D’Esta Guild in Portland, OR (March 21, 1959) and they were great friends and partners for 62 years. While engaged, Stuart nearly died of complications from surgery, an event which changed the trajectory of his life. He decided to pursue ministry and attended Abilene Christian College (’60), receiving a BA in biblical studies. Before pursuing additional schooling, he preached briefly for congregations in Mt. Hood and Springfield, OR. The family next moved to Ft. Worth where Stuart preached and attended seminary. When Abilene Christian began their MDiv program, he moved to a church in Eastland, TX so that he would commute to Abilene. While there, he completed both an MA (New Testament) and an MDiv (’68). Upon completion of those degrees he returned to Oregon where he served congregations in Springfield and Portland. While in Portland, he began work on a PhD at San Francisco Theological Seminary (’77), which he finished while preaching for the University Church of Christ in Abilene, TX.
The remainder of his career was spent at Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA, where he served briefly as Dean of Students and subsequently as professor of Ministry and New Testament for 34 years. He retired with the honor of professor emeritus. While at Pepperdine he distinguished himself in several ways, including scholarship and teaching. His larger contribution, however, was to the spiritual life of the university where he was a valued colleague and led the initiative for full gender inclusion throughout the public life of the university, including its religious aspects. With his wife, D’Esta, he edited Leaven Journal, a Pepperdine publication devoted to theology and ministry. Under Leaven’s auspices, they hosted an annual symposium on ministry at the Pepperdine Bible Lectures. Stuart and D’Esta were also a fixture in the Pepperdine International programs, a room being named in their honor at the Pepperdine Villa in Florence, Italy.
While at Pepperdine, Stuart remained active in churches, preaching regularly for area congregations and serving as an elder for the University Church of Christ in Malibu, CA.
Upon retiring, Stuart and D’Esta moved to Albuquerque to be near Jon and Charlotte and to serve as needed in teaching and preaching at the Montgomery Church of Christ.
While Stuart lived many places in his life, Oregon always was his heart’s home. In addition to Springfield and Portland, Stuart and D’Esta owned a home in Redmond, a high desert community with a view of the Cascade mountains in Central Oregon. Stuart learned to love the high desert, which made loving his new home in Albuquerque an easy transition. He read voraciously, reading and writing every morning right up to the hospitalization at the end of his life. He loved to cook and try new recipes. He was a lifelong Dodgers’ fan because of Jackie Robinson and Duke Snider. He cared deeply about issues of racial and gender justice. He was a great father and a silly grandfather. He was above all things a devoted husband.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in Stuart’s honor to the Stuart and D’Esta Scholarship for Women in Ministry fund at Rochester University, 800 W Avon Rd., Rochester Hills, MI 48307. https://rochesteru.edu/alumni-giving/giving/
A Visitation will be held Saturday, March 20, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. with the Funeral Service at 10:00 a.m., Montgomery Church of Christ, 7201 Montgomery Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM; A Graveside Service follows at Fairview Memorial Park, 700 Yale Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM.
Daniels Family Funeral Services
3113 Carlisle Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
505-884-1188
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Stuart Lee Love, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Saturday, March 20, 2021
9:00 - 10:00 am (Mountain time)
Montgomery Church of Christ
Funeral Service
Saturday, March 20, 2021
Starts at 10:00 am (Mountain time)
Montgomery Church of Christ
Graveside
Saturday, March 20, 2021
Starts at 11:30 am (Mountain time)
Fairview Memorial Park
Guestbook
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