Eldridge Lovelace

Eldridge Lovelace, formerly of Kansas City, died Friday, November 7, 2008, in St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Lovelace was born in Kansas City, Kan., on March 16, 1913. He was the son of Charles W. Lovelace and Eva Hirst Lovelace and spent his childhood at 435 W. 59th Street, Kansas City, Mo. A graduate of Bryant School and Southwest High School, he attended the Universities of Kansas and Illinois, and in 1935 he received the degree Bachelor of Fine Arts in Landscape Architecture from the University of Illinois. He studied under Harland Bartholomew, who was Professor of Civic Design at Illinois, and upon graduation he joined the firm of Harland Bartholomew and Associates in St. Louis. He became chairman of the board upon the firm's incorporation in 1977. During the 46 years that Mr. Lovelace was with Harland Bartholomew and Associates, he prepared comprehensive plans for numerous cities in Missouri and throughout the United States. He was particularly interested in conservation issues in Missouri as well as comprehensive planning for towns and counties, highway planning, and preservation of open spaces through controlled development. He advocated enhancement of state parks and conservation of streams and valleys, wetlands and woodlands, and wildlife throughout Missouri. Mr. Lovelace knew and appreciated all parts of Missouri. He knew and explored the Meramec, Current, and Cuivre river systems, among others, and most recently the Huzzah Valley. He sought to preserve grasslands and woody habitats needed for native birds and animals and to develop plans to serve the long-term interests of the state's population. In his long career Mr. Lovelace also prepared land-use control programs and site planning projects throughout the United States, including the grounds at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, St. Louis. His master plans in Missouri include those for the Cannon Reservoir recreational area and Babler State Park. In 1971 Mr. Lovelace was appointed a Commissioner of Tower Grove Park, an extensive Victorian park in St. Louis dating to 1868. He later served as board president, from 1988-1995 and remained active as a commissioner emeritus. Mr. Lovelace was married for 66 years to the late Marjorie Van Evera Lovelace (d., 2005), also of Kansas City, who was the daughter of John J. Van Evera and Susan H. Van Evera. Mr. Lovelace's survivors are Dr. Jean Lovelace Stinchcombe (Mrs. William) of Syracuse; Dr. Richard Lovelace, professor of Astronomy at Cornell University; grandchildren Thomas E. Stinchcombe, MD, University of North Carolina; Marjorie Stinchcombe, attorney Burlington, Vermont; Dr. John R. Stinchcombe, University of Toronto; Jennifer B. Lovelace and Evera Lovelace of Ithaca, and six great- grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Charles H. Lovelace, formerly of Kansas City and now of Clemson, South Carolina, and nephews John S. Lovelace of San Antonio, Texas, and Charles Lovelace of Clemson, South Carolina. A memorial service was held on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 4 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church, 5007 Waterman, St. Louis, MO 63108, where he had been a member since 1947.