Francis Lovett was born on April 23, 1926, the son of Charles and Anna Lovett. He died on August 20, 2017, at the age of 91. His parents resided at 1432 Erie Avenue in Renovo, PA.

He enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17 in 1944. Francis completed his enlistment at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida where he was working as a crew chief. He was a veteran of WWII, serving in the Navy, Army, Air Force, and the Army National Guard.

He enlisted because most of his friends did. His father suffered a heart attack and died as a result. In the absence of his father, Francis felt compelled to help his family. He provided for his family back home by sending money from his military allotment.

In the Air branch of the Navy, he went to Radiomen’s School and gunner school for PBMs and Flying Boats in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Included in his training, he went to school for sea planes in Norfolk, Virginia. He trained in the Sea Hawk, a slingshot off Battle Ships and Cruisers. Only 577 were built and rarely seen in color, especially while stationed overseas. Some argued that this was the best US float plane ever built.

Staff Sergeant Lovett was discharged in 1946 and re-enlisted in the US Air Force in February 1947. He completed his enlistment at Eglin Air Force Base, FL and was last assigned to the Climatic Laboratory, a refrigerated airplane hangar. The first tests at the lab started in 1947. Airplanes that were tested included the B-29 Superfortress, C-82 Packet, P-47 Thunderbolt, P-51 Mustang, P-80 Shooting Star, and the Sikorsky H-5D helicopter. This assignment probably made sure planes could withstand temps. On 12 June 1971, the hangar was dedicated as the McKinley Climatic Hangar in honor of Col. Ashley McKinley, who suggested the facility and served at Eglin during its construction. Lovett was stationed there while the lab was being constructed.

After his military career, Francis enjoyed a career with the Pennsylvania Railroad. He remained active in the local military organizations and served his community of Renovo most of his life. He served as the Commander of the American Legion Post 442 in Renovo for many years. 

Francis attended many of our Veterans Day Assemblies held at the local high school. He died with a strong sense of military pride. He was always a gentleman.

According to his daughter Kim, his favorite branch was the Army Air Force because he loved all the planes he flew in and had many pictures of himself in different planes. He carried around a folder to show people all the planes he was in.

When I was growing up and attending St. Joseph’s in Renovo, we always thought he was the Glad Man from the Glad Trash bag commercials. It must have been his silver hair. He was an actor though, playing a small part in a classroom scene in Twelve O’clock High with Gregory Peck. What a man!