Dorothy Bessie Love, age 88, longtime Oak Harbor resident, passed away at Skagit Valley Hospital on Wednesday, May 20, 2015.

Mrs. Love was born in Peeples Valley, Ariz., on Jan. 15, 1927, to Emil and Ihva Etta (Leisering) Weisling.

Dorothy’s father was the foreman of the Octave Arizona Gold Mine. After the mine was closed, the family moved to Prescott, Ariz.

It was there that she attended high school and met her future husband, Thomas Charles Love. She was a Navy wife for many years, including duty stations in Newfoundland, Hawaii, Philippines, California (San Luis Obispo and Alameda), Olathe, Kansas, and finally Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. It was there that the family decided to put down roots.

She was a pre-school teacher for 30 years and taught at the Navy Child Care Center in Oak Harbor for many years after that. She enjoyed being in a bowling league in Oak Harbor and was a life-time member of the VFW and Fleet Reserve. She also enjoyed playing pinochle and crocheting.

Both her sons, George Allan Love and Thomas Michael Love, spent many years in the Navy.

Dorothy was loved by many and is survived by her son, George Love; grandsons, Christopher Michael Love and Donald Thomas Love; nephew, Chris Gilbert Weisling; niece, Jan Weisling; great-nieces, Emily JoAnna Weisling, Liesel Anne Weisling and Suzie Vanderbeek.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Charles Love; son, Thomas Love; sister, Martha Weisling; and brother, Albert Weisling. In keeping with her wishes, no services will be held. Arrangements are with the assistance of Whidbey Memorial.