Arline F. Love, Capt. USAF, age 88 of Canton passed away June 23rd at the Charlwell House in Norwood. Born in Braintree, she was a longtime Canton resident and the daughter of Walter and Alice Love. A graduate of Mount Saint Joseph Academy and Peter Bent Brigham Hospital School of Nursing, she joined the Air Force Nurse Corp during the Korean War and received her wings as a Flight Nurse. She was retired for disability after 12 years of service at bases throughout the country and the Philippines with the rank of Captain. Following retirement, she earned a Bachelor of Nursing Degree from Boston College and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Washington after which she was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. After a period as Assistant Director of Nursing Service with the American Nurses Assn, she returned to Canton as Director of the Canton Nurses Association for four years followed by a stint as Manager of the Central Medical Review Department at Blue Cross. In 1981 she volunteered to work in Retiree Activities Office at Hanscom AFB, becoming Director of the program in 1984, a total of 33 years committed to working with and assisting military retirees and their survivors with problems and questions relating to health care and support services, and wrote a newsletter for Military Retirees that had a distribution of 14,000. During this time she was the recipient of many awards including the Air Force Chief of Staff Volunteer Excellence Award in 1999 and the Colonel Robert Hawes Award for efforts on behalf of the military community from Brighton Marine Health Center.
Other activities included serving as Area XIII Representative to the Air Force Retirees Council representing all bases in New England, New York, and New Jersey, National President of the Society of Retired Air Force Nurses, member of the Board of Directors for Brighton Marine Health Center, Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Peer Review Organization, Canton Veteran’s Council and Honor Guard. Memberships include the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Air Force Association, Military Officers Assn of America and Women’s Overseas Service League.
Beloved sister of Nancy A. Love of S. Dennis, and the late W. James Love, Jr. and Robert T. Love. Aunt of Ricard McCole, Peter Love, Robert Love, Allison Kennedy, Jennifer Murray, Caroline Lombardi and ten great nieces and nephews and one great, great niece. Visiting hours at the Dockray & Thomas Funeral Home 455 Washington St. Canton Tuesday 4-7 pm. Funeral mass at St. John the Evangelist Church Canton Wednesday morning at 10:30. Burial VA National Cemetery, Bourne Wednesday afternoon at 2 pm. Veteran United States Air Force. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Arline’s memory to the Canton Veteran’s Service Department 801 Washington St. Canton, MA 02021.