William E Love , June 27, 1928 — January 21, 2019

William “Bud” Love passed away peacefully on January 21, 2019. He was born June 27, 1928 in Baxter Springs, KS to Theodore and Christine Hardiman Love. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 1st at Ebenezer AME Church, 3808 Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard,Kansas City, MO with service following at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in Odessa, MO at the Odessa Cemetery.

William received his formal education in the Baxter Springs school system and later moved to Wichita, where he joined the United States Army. During his two years in the Army, William was stationed at many bases including Fort Hood, TX, Fort Bliss, GA, and in Alabama. It was in Alabama where William was exposed to boxing.

He joined the Army’s boxing team to learn the fundamentals and train for events. After being honorably discharged from the Army as a Corporal in January, 1953, William moved to Kansas City where he met Melvina Nelson and married her five months later; a marriage that lasted over 65 years. In the early years of their marriage William boxed professionally in the Midwest.

He later worked for Manor Bakers for 25 years until his retirement. William was a very active man and enjoyed being with people. After his retirement he took up bowling professionally and toured the country playing in bowling tournaments and winning many trophies.

It was at one of his tournaments where he got the nickname “Bud”. Some say he was named after the beer and some say he was a buddy to everyone. Bud had a Volkswagon named “The Love Bug” in which he and his wife Melvina traveled every state in the U.S. at least twice.

In his later years after retiring from bowling, Bud and Melvina enjoyed traveling to Colorado to visit his sister Barbara and her family. William is preceded in death by his parents Theodore Love and Christine Love-Brinkley, sister Barbara, and brothers Herbert, Bobby and Vernon Brinkley. Left to cherish his memory are his wife Melvina, brother-in-law William Nelson, Jr., a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.

Yes, we loved him, but God loves him best. Memorial gifts may be made to Ebenezer AME Church, 3808 Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64130. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, February 1, 2019 at Ebenezer AME 388088 Cleaver II Boulevard KCMO 64130.

If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.