Ted Joseph Lovelace

Ted Joseph Newsom Lovelace Jr., 82, of Atchison, KS passed away on Monday, May 26, 2025, at the Kansas City VA hospital surrounded by family and friends.
Memorial services will be held at 11:30 AM on Monday, June 9th, 2025, at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home with Rev. Jerry Shelley, officiating. A private family burial will be in the Leavenworth National Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services on Monday, June 9th, 2025, at the funeral home. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Disabled American Veterans or Wounded Warriors and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com.
Ted was born on January 16, 1943, in Nashville, Tennessee, the son of Pauline (Averitt) Lovelace and Ted Joseph Lovelace Sr. He has two sisters, Janice Barnes and Brenda Stafford. After his father died his mother married William R. Kelley. Three brothers came along: William Kelley, Paul Kelley and Phillip Kelley. Ted worked his school years as a paper boy where they lived in Lebanon, Tennessee. He attended Lebanon High School and before high school graduation he joined the Navy and received his GED. His MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) was Helmsman aboard the USS Robinson. After his Honorable Discharge from the Navy, he worked for Ross Gear manufacturing before accepting his call to preach. He then attended Trevecca Nazarene University where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Elementary Education and met Jennie P. Sibert from Richmond, Indiana. They were married in 1966. Their son Kelley came along in 1970 and shortly after in 1971 another son, Jason, was born. The family moved to Overland Park, Kansas so he could attend the Nazarene Theological Seminary. He worked as a part-time Associate Pastor at Antioch Church of the Nazarene. In 1978, he accepted his first church as a Lead Pastor in Central City, Kentucky. In 1985, he accepted the Lead Pastor position at Nicholasville First Church of the Nazarene. In 1992, they moved to Evansville, Indiana to accept the Lead Pastor at Trinity Church of the Nazarene. Following his time at Evansville Trinity, he served as Assistant Pastor at Chandler, Indiana, Church of the Nazarene. Ted then moved to Atchison, Kansas, where he served as Lead Pastor at Atchison Church of the Nazarene until his retirement in 2016. Ted also worked for Emery-Pratt Book Distribution Company as well as Roadway Trucking and Yellow Freight. He was also a substitute teacher and a bus driver.
In his free time, Ted enjoyed hunting, working on "small machines" and cars, visiting yard sales, antique malls, and collecting valuables. His favorite pastime was spending time with people, especially family and close friends. He had an uncanny ability to see the value in the most inconspicuous things and individuals. To him, everyone and everything had value. He will be missed terribly, but we know he is with Jesus, telling just one more story.
He is survived by his wife Jennie P Lovelace, sons Jason G (Jihye) Lovelace of Overland Park, Kansas, and Kelley J (Rhonda) Lovelace of Oakes, North Dakota, sister Janice Barnes of Pinellas Park, Florida, nephew Steve Barnes of Mary Vale, Arizona, niece Cynthia Paonessa of Pinellas Park, four grandchildren, and three plus one on the way Great-Grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, a brother Phillip Ray Kelley, a sister Brenda Stafford, and Uncle James Averitt.