Eugene "Gene" F. Loveland

Gene was born in Anderson, Indiana in 1920. An only child, his life was emblematic of The Greatest Generation. He grew up during the Depression and came of age during World War II. He was tested and emerged with optimism and purpose; he was committed to his family, his country, and to causes larger than himself.

Gene attended Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT) and was a member of the Class of 1943. He joined Chi Psi fraternity and made a name for himself as a sprinter in 220 and 440-yard dashes. In March of his senior year, he was called to active duty with the U.S. Naval Air Corps. He served as a fighter pilot on board the USS Ticonderoga in the Pacific Theater and earned the Distinguish Flying Cross and two air medals.

In the spring of 1946, Gene returned to Wesleyan with his bride Joan (King) to complete his final semester. After graduating, he joined the Shell Oil Company as a sales trainee in aviation sales. His career with Shell encompassed sixteen assignments and ten moves (including two years in London) and culminated in 1968 with a promotion to vice president. His last assignment brought him to Houston in 1971, and it was to be his home for the last half-century of his life.

Following retirement from Shell, Mr. Loveland spent eight years as president of Transworld Oil USA, Inc. The company, formerly known as T.W. Oil Inc., is a holding company for businesses providing services to the oil, gas and energy industries. Mr. Loveland joined the company as president in 1981 and served as chairman and chief executive officer from 1983 to 1989.

Gene’s volunteer and civic activities—from which it seemed he never retired—read like yet another career. An energetic and sought-after organizer and fundraiser, he was president of the Houston Ballet Foundation for four years (chairman for one); president of the International Contemporary Music Exchange; a member of the executive committees of the United Way and the Houston International Festival; a trustee of the Houston Support Center, the British American Educational Foundation, and the Cultural Arts Council of Houston; chairman of the development committee of the Fay School; chairman of the Greater Houston Ice Skating Council; commander of the Texas Commandery of the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem; Honorary Counsel General of the Republic of Malta; and vice dean of the Houston Consular Corps. A founding member of the Wortham Theater Foundation, Gene personally raised $21 million of the $74 million secured in private funds to build and give the City of Houston a new opera house and adjoining theater for the performing arts. The Texas chapter of the National Society for Fund Raising Executives awarded Gene its 1980 Fund Raiser of the Year Award.

Gene and Joan were married for 69 years. They had four sons—Jeffrey (Sara), Peter (Kathy), David (Susan), and Mark (Jamie) and a daughter, Laurie Daniel (Dan). Affectionately called Papa Gene and Gogo, they were blessed with 11 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.

Always a great storyteller, he wrote a 130-page book of “Papa Gene Stories,” with recollections of his boyhood, his service during the War, his career, and his many adventures with notable characters around the world. In the book’s forward he wrote, “Through some of the stories and experiences, I hope the reader will have a view of the 20th Century and what my generation refers to as, ‘The Good Old Days’.” His legacy will live on in the City of Houston and across the United States through the generations of family and friends who loved him.

A memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 22nd day of November, in the chapel of The Church of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Boulevard in Houston, where The Rev. Dr. Doug Richnow, Associate Priest is to officiate.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception at a venue to be announced at the service.

The family will gather for a private military graveside inurnment at Houston National Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to the Houston Ballet or the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center by selecting the link under ‘Donations’ below.

We invite you to take a few moments to share fond memories and words of comfort and condolence with his family by selecting 'Add a Memory' icon under 'Show your Support' below.