contributed by Larry Toler

MARION -- Russell Dale "Rusty" Lovelace, 86, died at 7:56 a.m. Monday, March 31, 2003, in Heartland Regional Medical Center of Marion.
    He was born in Goreville, the son of Lemuel and Sophronia (Russell) Lovelace.
    Rusty, as he was known, was a graduate of Herrin High School in 1934.
    He was united in marriage to Grace Bloodworth in the United Methodist Parsonage in Herrin, May 2, 1937.  Together they enjoyed nearly sixty-six years of marriage.
    In his younger years, Rusty served in the Civilian Conservation Corps Camps in Green Bay.  Later he and Grace moved to Pontiac, Mich., where he worked for Borden's Dairy.  While working at the Borden's farm he saved the life of a young boy from drowning and for this he received the Pasteur Medal for Lifesaving.
    Rusty answered the call of this nation during World War II by serving in the United States Army in the Pacific Theater.  He was a sergeant with the combat engineers from 1942 until the time of his discharge in 1946.
    Following the war he was employed at Sangamo Electric as a tool and die maker.  He then went to work for United Mine Workers as a labor organizer.  He later became a business agent for the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers, helping to organize unions.  Subsequently, he became a Grand Lodge representative for International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers, serving in the Midwestern nine states.  He served in this capacity until his retirement in 1974, receiving a fifty-year pin for his service.
    Rusty was of the Methodist faith and a life member of VFW Heyde-Pillow Post No. 1301 of Marion.  Fishing was a favorite pass time, especially in his later years after retirement.  In 1969, he and his wife moved to the Lake of Egypt, living in North Shore Land for the next twenty years, then moving back to Marion in 1989.  In addition to enjoying the company of his family and friends, he also loved spending many happy hours gardening and watching sporting events on television.
    He is survived by his wife, Grace Lovelace of Marion; son and daughter-in-law, Dale and Delores Lovelace of Marion; three granddaughters and their husbands, Lori and Mike Heuschele of Foristell, Mo., Lisa and Steve McKinney of Springfield, Ill. and Susan Leanne and Brent Holst of San Diego, Calif.; five great-grandchildren, Christi, Ashley and Mallory McKinney and Fletcher and Keegan Holst; great-great-grandson, Zachary Joseph McKinney; several nieces; nephews; and other family members and many friends.
    He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Paul Lovelace, and three sisters, Madge Francis, Blanche Francis and Wilma Smith.
    Services for Russell Dale Rusty Lovelace will be at 11 a.m., Thursday in Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home of Marion, with Dr. Joey Brent officiating.  Entombment will follow in East Lawn Memorial Gardens Mausoleum of Energy with military honors being conducted by VFW Heyde-Pillow Post No. 1301 of Marion.  Visitation will be form 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home
    For those who wish, memorials in memory of Russell Dale Rusty Lovelace may be made in the form of contributions to the First Baptist Church of Marion.  Envelopes will be available at the funeral home or may be mailed to Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home, P.O. Box 370, Marion, IL 62959

The Southern Illinoisan
Wednesday, April 2, 2003