Brendan Eugene Love, age 97, entered into rest on Jan. 2, 2026. He was born on May 19, 1928, in San Antonio, Texas to his parents, Robert Blackburn Love and Gladys May Spears.
Brendan is survived by his daughter, Cynthia Ann Eckhart (James Milton Eckhart, Sr.), and son, Raymond H. Love, his grandchildren, Jennifer Marie Eckhart, James Milton Eckhart, Jr., and Ashley Baker, great-grandchildren, Ashton Baker and Abby Baker, cousins, Margaret Love Smith, Christine Thomson, Clifton Love, and niece, Terri Gross Bennet (Tommy). He was preceded in death by his wives, Doris Lucille Love, and Dorothy S. Love, sons Brendan Eugene Love, Jr., Robert Brendan Love, Barry Love, and nephew Randy Moore.
Brendan was a devoted member of the Coldspring Methodist Church for over 30 years.
He attended Sam Houston State University before joining the United State Navy in 1946, where he served during World War II, stationed in Guam in the Mariana Islands. After his honorable discharge in 1952, Brendan enrolled at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical School in Miami, where he became a private pilot and graduated with honors in navigation and meteorology. It was during this time that he joined Pan American World Airways.
Brendan flew for Pan American World Airways for 35 years, retiring on Jan. 31, 1988. He flew the 747 internationally for the last 15 years before retirement. Throughout his career, he was affectionately known as “Tex” Love in the Pan American World. After retirement, he continued his aviation career at the Pan American Training Center in Miami, where he taught young pilots to fly in the 747 flight simulator.
His greatest passions were his family and the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Brendan and his wife built a home in Estes Park, Colorado, where his family spent many summers, as well as a summer home on Lake Livingston in Texas. An avid outdoorsman, he proudly climbed Hallets Peak and Flattop Mountain. In his later years, Brendan found great joy in volunteering with senior citizens in Conroe and Willis, Texas, continuing a life marked by service, dedication, and generosity.
The Love and Eckhart family would like to thank all who have supported our family during my father’s journey before his final takeoff. There will be no baggage on this flight. God has cleared the runway for his final take off to Heaven. “Keep the Blue Side Up”.
With loving hearts, we invite family and friends to join us in honoring the life of Brendan Love during a graveside service on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Oakwood Cemetery in Coldspring, Texas.