Maria Selin Rivera Love passed away on May 16, 2020. She was a tiny Latin woman with a huge spirit and a deep and abiding Faith. She lived a long and extraordinary life and had a treasure trove of interesting tales to tell.
Maria was born on January 19, 1924 in Morovis, Puerto Rico, the second youngest of nine children. She grew up on a farm and had many animals as pets, including a cow that she once brought into the house. She left the island to attend high school in Pittsburgh PA, joined the Civil Air Patrol and then returned home to earn an Honors degree in Elementary Education from The University of Puerto Rico. After graduation she moved to New York City and spent a year as a mid-century Manhattanite before joining the United States Air Force. Maria was an Intelligence Operations Specialist, a reconnaissance photo analyst, a distinguished pistol shot and the first female Airman assigned to the Strategic Air Command. She came from a long line of service members dating back to World War I.
After spending a decade on active duty, marrying fellow Airman Garland W. Love and attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant, Maria returned to civilian life to raise two future Airmen, spend a second career as an elementary school English teacher and pursue an MA in Education from the University of Illinois. After her retirement she was active in various charities and church activities. She was married for 63 years to Chief Master Sergeant Love (USAF ret) until his passing on March 3. They spent their lives together and will be interred together at Arlington National Cemetery. A mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Thomas More Cathedral, Thursday, October 1, 2020 at 10:30 am. A graveside service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery on Friday, October 2, 2020 at 12:45 PM.
Maria leaves behind her sons Bill (Terri), Eddie (Frecia), grandchildren Sabrina, Kelsey and Kyle, nephews Lou and Joel, nieces Marie, Maggie, Merci and Cusie and their families. She also leaves a close circle of friends in Tucson AZ who loved and cared for her for many years. Special thanks go to Tucson Place Assisted Living in Tucson and Sunrise Senior Living in Arlington VA. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the American Cancer Society, Catholic Community Services or the charity of your choice.
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