Beatrice Bea Love

Determined, strong willed, event planner, active were just a few words that could be used to describe the character of Beatrice Bea Bowman Love. Born Beatrice Ann Bowman in Chicago, Illinois on January 4, 1931, she was the middle child born to John Gillette and Ethel (Benjamin) Bowman.

She grew up in the Chicago area as her dad was a local business owner. She helped take care of her younger brother as she grew up. Bea graduated from Hirsch High School with the Class of 1949. While attending Indiana University, she met John Charles Love and the two would marry on Sept. 22, 1950 in Bloomington. She went on to graduate from IU, receiving a Bachelors of Science Degree in Music. She and John welcomed four children into their lives and hearts, Belinda, Donna, Jeffrey and Douglas. It was a devastating loss when their 18 month old son Jeffrey passed away. She began substitute teaching after her children were in school, before being offered a permanent teachers position. She became the music teacher and as her youngest son Doug went into middle school in Lansing, Ill., she took a position with his school, Memorial Junior High to become their music teacher for the next 30 years.

As the children were growing up, it was not uncommon for Bea to use her sewing skills to create outfits for her children. She stayed active being involved in the Womens Society Club, playing piano for the school choir and her church, and she helped develop a guitar program at the school so every 8th grader could learn to play. She loved riding horses and it was an activity she shared with her children. She also enjoyed camping, and traveling around. For over 10 years, she and John took two, five week vacations traveling around and Bea planned out their entire route. They lived in Lansing, IL for over 40 years before moving to Columbia City in 2003 to be closer to their son Doug and horses.

Beatrice Bea Bowman Love, 86, of Columbia City, Ind., passed away at her home on Saturday afternoon, December 16, 2017. Survivors include her daughters, Belinda (James) Pala, of Signal Mountain, Tenn. and Donna Schane, of Hebron, Ind.; son, Douglas (Judy) Love, of Columbia City; sister, June Paylo, of Lansing, Illinois; brother, John (Andy) Bowman, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; seven grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Love; parents, Gillette and Ethel Bowman; and son, Jeffrey Love.

Visitation is 2-3:45 p.m. Saturday, December 23, 2017 at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral service will follow at 4 p.m. with Pastor Jeff Lewis officiating. She will be laid to rest beside her husband at Lowell Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be given in her memory to Visiting Nurse Hospice Home. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send family condolences.