The Reverend John H. Loving
AUSTIN - The Reverend John H. Loving, beloved husband, father, brother, friend and priest, died Thursday, May 16, 2024 at the age of 85 in Austin, Texas. A native Virginian, he was the son of the late Harnish Phillips Loving and Elizabeth Waddell Loving. He was a graduate of the University of Richmond (1961) and of the General Theological Seminary in New York City (1967). He also served in the U.S. Army Security Agency in Monterey, California and Frankfurt, Germany (1961-1964) between his college graduation and entrance into seminary.
Fr John, as he was affectionately called by his parishioners, served as assistant at the Church of the Ascension in Norfolk, Virginia following his ordination (1967-69) and as rector of Johns Memorial Church (St Patrick Parish) in Farmville, Virginia (1969-1983), Grace Episcopal Church, Ponca City, Oklahoma (1983-1990), and Emmanuel Episcopal Church, San Angelo, Texas (1990-2003). In his retirement in Austin, he served as interim rector at St James, La Grange, Calvary Church, Bastrop and Christ Church, Cedar Park. He also served as interim Assisting Priest in Austin at St Luke’s on the Lake, St Mark’s and Church of the Good Shepherd. In addition to those parishes, he did Sunday supply work throughout the Central Texas area. He loved being able to continue his active ministry until the age of 80.
His national and provincial responsibilities in the Diocese of Northwest Texas included the General Board of Examining Chaplains, Deputy of General Convention, Board of Trustees at the Seminary of the Southwest (Austin), and as provincial representative on the Alumni/ae Board of the General Theological Seminary in New York. His diocesan responsibilities included Chair of the Commission on Ministry, Chair of the Music and Liturgy Committee and Dean of the Eagle Cover Deanery. He also served on the diocesan Executive Council and Standing Committee and as Chair of the Examining Chaplains for the Commission on Ministry.
While he was rector at Emmanuel Church in San Angelo, the parish formed a companion relationship with St Andrew’s Russian Orthodox Church in St Petersburg as the country was opening after the fall of the Soviet Union and church life was reviving. Since he had studied Russian at the Army Language School in Monterrey this was of great interest to him. He and his wife Nancy made several trips to Russia and led two tour groups there over the years. John also supplied one month at St Andrew’s Anglican Church in Moscow.
As a pianist and organist himself, Fr John loved the music and liturgy of the Episcopal Church. He also was a passionate opera fan and he and Nancy attended opera performances in many cities in the United States and abroad in their travels.
John Harnish Loving is survived by his devoted wife of 56 years, Nancy, and sons, Ward Harnish Loving and John Bradshaw Loving, Ward’s wife, Courtney Stanford Loving and grandchildren Warren Stanford Loving and Courtney Elizabeth Loving and Brad’s wife, Nicole Elitch Loving and grandson, Samuel Orion Loving. He is also survived by his sister, Elizabeth Loving Robbins, her husband, George William Robbins III, nephew and nieces and beloved cousins.
A funeral service will be held Friday, May 24, 2024 at 2:00 pm at St David’s Episcopal Church, Austin, with memorial service and burial in Richmond, Virginia, at Maury Cemetery on June 22, 2024. For those wishing to honor his memory, donations may be made to the Music Funds of St David’s Episcopal Church, Austin or Emmanuel Episcopal Church, San Angelo or Johns Memorial Church, Farmville, Virginia, or Grace Church, Ponca City, Oklahoma or the Austin Opera.