Wallace Rayford Lovelace, Sr.

Wallace Rayford Lovelace, Sr, 80, a resident of Cleveland passed from this life on Sunday morning, February 12, 2012. He was born February 2, 1932 in Stevenson, Alabama. He graduated from Kenmore High School in Akron, Ohio, where he was a standout in basketball and baseball. After high school, he joined the United States Navy. He was honorably discharged in 1955 and began a career with TVA. His job moved him to various cities in Tennessee with his final stop in Cleveland in the early 1960's. He retired from TVA in 1993. Wallace is best known in the community for his ability to coach baseball and for the many years he volunteered at Fulbright Park and Bradley County Recreation Park. He inspired many young boys to succeed in sports. Wallace was an avid Crimson Tide fan, often engaging in friendly arguments with his sons-in-law over UT and Alabama games. His outstanding vegetable gardens, his great sense of humor, and his love for his family will be cherished memories. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Preston Lovelace and Ettie Lovelace Marsh; his brother and sister-in-law, William Oran Lovelace and Bessie Orene Lovelace Hall; and brother-in-law, Joel Cortes. Wallace is survived by his wife of 58 years, Shirley Ann Walder Lovelace of Cleveland; his children: Linda and Lonnie Varnell, Dianna and Mike Johnson, Cindy and Chuck Blackmon, Wallace and Kathy Lovelace and Donna Lovelace; his beloved grandchildren: Lee Varnell and his fiancé, Sara Bonner, Logan Johnson, Erin and Jack Fennell, Rusty and Cody Blackmon, Bryant and Meghan Blackmon, Ryan and Cassie Lovelace, Corey and Jessie Lovelace; great-grandchildren, David Lancaster and Jacob Varnell; and sister, Winnie Lovelace Cortes. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at First Lutheran Church with Pastor Robert Seaton officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens with military honors. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at Fike Funeral Home and from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at the church prior to the service. The family request in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to LWML at First Lutheran Church, 195 McIntire Drive NE, Cleveland, TN 37312. This will ensure that Christian mission work will continue throughout the world. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Lovelace family guestbook at www.fikefh.com